The County Times -- 2009-03-19 (Hi-Def)

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Farming... Then and Now Story Page 4

St. Mary’s Square Getting Invigorated Story Page 10

Supreme Court Win for Hometown Lawyer Story Page 14

Raiders Lacrosse Gets New Boss Story Page 35

Photo by Frank Marquart

The County Times

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Weekly Poll

RESULTS

Do you support the school board’s decision to reduce the graduation requirements for high school seniors?

No 60% 35%

Not Sure 5%

Yes At $166,000, do you think the county schools’ superintendent’s salary is too high?

Too Low Too High

50% 10%

40%

Appropriate St. Mary’s County mandates a lower class size ration than required by the state. Due to economic conditions, should St. Mary’s County increase class sizes?

Not Sure 15%

No

80%

5%

Yes

Inside

The County Times

Thursday, March 19, 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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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 Boys Lacrosse Sports Desk Blue Crabs

< culture>

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The County Times

ews

Thursday, March 19, 2009

If You Yelled For 8 Years, 7 Months And 6 Days, You Would Have Produced Enough Sound Energy To Heat One Cup Of Coffee.

un Fact

Today’s Newsmakers In Brief Should stimulus funds be used for public works amenities in the county?

Yes! The purpose of the Why not have a trolley stimulus money is to create jobs, system that the state of and the easiest way to do that Maryland maintains on is to put it in infrastructure. the Three Notch Trail?

Commissioner Lawrence D. Jarboe (R-Golden Beach)

Maryland Senate Approves Ban on Texting While Driving ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) The Maryland Senate overwhelmingly approved a ban on sending text messages while driving, in a vote that was 43-4. The legislation would create a maximum $500 fine for a violation, which would be a misdemeanor. Supporters say sending text messages while driving is just too dangerous. The bill now heads to the House of Delegates.

There currently are no restrictions on adults in Maryland for using hand-held telephones or electronic devices while driving. A minor with a provisional driver’s license or learner’s permit is not allowed to use a wireless communication device while driving, except to call 911.

Currently, seven states and the District of Columbia prohibit driving while texting.

Recreation and Parks Announces Summer Camp Registration The Board of County Commissioners for St. Mary’s County and the Department of Recreation and Parks have announced that registration for 2009 summer camps will begin on April 20, 2009.

St. Mary’s County offers a variety of summer camps, including TREK (Teaching, Reaching, Enriching Kids) day camps for 6-10 yearolds, PTO (Pre-Teen Only) camps for 11-12 year-olds, the New Horizons camp for children with disabilities, Camp Inspire for children and young adults with autism, PLAY (Positive Learning Atmosphere for Youth) camps for 3 ½-5 year-olds, and other specialty camps for arts and crafts and youth fitness. Summer sports camps this year include baseball, softball, basketball, cheerleading, lacrosse, football, field hockey, tennis, and soccer instructional programs.

Registration forms are available at the Recreation and Parks main office in Leonardtown, or may be downloaded from the website at www.co.saint-marys.md.us/recreate/ Forms/Form1.pdf.

-Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (D-Great Mills)

From Farming Equipment To Lawn Mowers, Carroll’s Have Changed With The Times

By Guy Leonard Staff Write

The agriculture business is changing in St. Mary’s County and Carroll’s Equipment is changing along with it.

A John Deere dealership, based in Dameron, the family owned company has been in

Photo by Frank Marquart

Brenda Hanson

business for 77 years.

But agriculture is not what it used to be here, said Richard “Rick” Carroll.

“Farming’s not predominate in the tricounty area anymore,” he told The County Times. “We’ve changed with the times and provided what the customer needed.

“But farming is probably less than 10 percent of my business now. It’s mostly consumer products.”

Though it still extends lines of credit to farmers in the region and provide services for their equipment, the Carroll family business, is a bellwether for how local agriculture is changing.

“Our farms down here are growing houses now,” said his father, Richard “Dick” Carroll, the second generation of the family still helping to the run the business.

“They say that’s the last crop a farm produces is houses,” Dick Carroll said. “We have to roll with the punches.”

Brenda Hanson, a member of the family working in sales, said that there might be about 10 large-scale farmers who raise crops throughout the whole county, slowing sales of larger equipment.

But smaller pieces of farm equipment are still going out the door, she said.

For some people, she said, farming is simply moving to a much smaller scale.

“You have housing farmettes with two horses and a big garden,” Hanson said. “They need a plow and a bush hog.

“We deal with those a lot.”

Hanson said that more and more people are looking to do their own gardens in tough economic times and the need for small-scale equipment could help boost their business.

Rick Carroll said he sees farming continuing as a way of life in Southern Maryland and in St. Mary’s County, but it won’t be like the county that his grandfather set up shop in nearly eight decades ago.

“The acreage [of farms] has reduced but you’re [lower] crop and commodities prices mean you have to be so much more efficient, to produce more with less input,” Rick Carroll said of stresses facing today’s farmers.

His father remembers better times, too.

“It’s surviving, we’d like to see it better,” Dick Carroll said. “Dad opened this place in 1929 and that road out there was dirt.

“They pulled stumps with horses and mules.”

Back then more farmers bought tractors or at least needed them serviced, Dick Carroll said.

That, too, has gone by the wayside.

“They don’t buy [big] equip-

ment down here,” he said of farmers. “And there are fewer of them down here.”

Strangely, sometimes logic gets turned on its head, he said.

“But the thing about farmers is if they have money, they spend it,” he said. “If they want information on an antique machine they come to me.

“Some of the old machines are still working in the field and they say the can’t afford a new piece, but when they want to restore one they spend the money. Hobbies are expensive.”

Despite the dwindling number of farmers here in the county, Rick Carroll said, the love of the land that those remaining have should be enough to keep their business going.

As long as the business continues to adapt, that is.

“With lawn and garden, for us that’s where it is,” he said. “As long as there’s demand in the county, I don’t see us going away from it.”

Thursday, March 19, 2009

The County Times

ews Critical Areas Rules Slow Wind Turbine Installation

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

missioners have even said they know of homeowners who are worried about having stumps removed from their land for fear of running afoul of the stringent regulations.

Johnson said he was concerned for others who

might want to venture out on their own and try their hand at energy independence.

“What about the next guy?” Johnson asked. “Do Last year Rich Johnson of Valley Lee was one of we have to go through this B.S. again? the key county residents who pushed for a zoning or“They talk out of one side of their mouth about danance that would allow him to put up a wind green energy… then when you try and do turbine on his property to produce his own it you run into all these barriers.” electricity.

Ren Serey, executive director of the

By December the new rule had passed and Critical Areas Commission did not return Johnson was ready to go, that was until he ran calls seeking comment for this article. into the state’s Chesapeake Bay Critical Areas Commissioner Lawrence D. Jarboe Commission.

(R-Golden Beach) said that when both he Johnson said that in mid-February he was and Johnson attended a meeting of the told he needed to have an additional variance Maryland Energy Administration in Anto install the device; at the cost of $550 just to napolis that advocates for clean running, wait six months for a hearing on that variance, green energy alternatives they were to get it past critical area regulations. somewhat shocked to hear that a group “County planning and zoning did very that was mandated to protect the enviwell,” Johnson said of the latest obstacle to his ronment was seemingly hindering an alproject. “The only problem was we had was ternative energy project. with the Critical Areas Commission and An“There needs to be a complete renapolis dictating to the county what to do.” view of the CAC down the line,” Jarboe But just last week, the state seemed to resaid. “What’s wrong with this picture?” lent, Johnson said, when staff at the county’s Johnson told The County Times that Department of Land Use and Growth Managehe will have to plant one tree in his yard ment informed him that he could proceed with on Heron Creek to comply with critical his project as long as he planted some trees and areas concerns, even though he had no shrubs on his land. trees to clear to set up his wind turbine.

The Critical Area Commission oversees Commissioner President Francis development and land use in areas that are near Jack Russell (D-St. George’s Island) said the shore line of the Chesapeake Bay in an efan April meeting of the CAC should clear fort to preserve those areas from erosion and things up. degredation.

“We’ll have refinement of this at the Photo by Guy Leonard But the commission has come under some Richard Johnson, of Valley Lee, stands with his son Russell next to parts to build his wind turbine. The CAC in April as the last hurdle to installcriticism here in the county has being too state’s critical area commission recently said he could proceed after initially expressing concerns over the ing these,” he said. rigid in its administration, some county com- project.

Commissioners Table Trash Fees For Businesses

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The Board of St. Mary’s County Commissioners decided against imposing any kind of commercial trash collection on businesses to fund about $2 million in costs from a future trash transfer station that the county intends to build.

The transfer station project was concurrently delayed since the funding won’t be readily available.

Last week four of the members of the Board of County Commissioners voted to have staff examine a possible fee range to help fund the entire operation of the transfer station to be located in the California area.

In the absence of the transfer station, the county has been paying private haulers to move county trash to out of state sites.

“We found it’s not actually going to pay for itself,” said Commissioner Lawrence D. Jarboe.

Jarboe, who opposed any additional fees on businesses in tough economic times, said that the current system, which had the county paying for commercial haulers to move trash outside of the county to Virginia seemed to be working well enough.

“You don’t mess with what works,” Jarboe said.

Tom Jarboe, president of the county’s Chamber of Commerce, said before commissioners axed the idea that a trash collection fee would have made little sense since business owners already pay to have their trash hauled away.

Jarboe also said that the only way for the county government to collect any substantial revenue from such a plan would be to institute a

tax and not a fee on a per usage basis.

“You can call it what you want but if they want to collect a significant amount of revenue they’d have to look at some sort of tax,” Tom Jarboe told The County Times. “I think the logic is flawed; it’s not going to benefit businesses.”

County residents now pay an additional $60 a year on their tax bill to help pay for that trash collection from the county’s trash convenience centers.

“Most businesses already pay anyway [for their own trash collection],” Tom Jarboe said. “I don’t use the transfer station for my garbage.”

Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly (DLeonardtown) said before the final decision that the commissioners were not enthusiastic about having to increase trash collection fees, even though the residential side of the payment wouldn’t support the planned transfer station.

“The residential fee doesn’t defer all of it,” Mattingly said. “But there’s not a strong sentiment to be raising fees right now.

“But if we build a transfer station we have to find some way to fund it.”

Tom Jarboe said that the county’s current solution for dealing with trash was not looking at the long term and it needed a better solution.

“You can only export garbage for so long,” Tom Jarboe said. “The county needs its own long term recycling facility here, now and a way to deal with our own garbage.

“We’re not looking at 20 years down the road, we’re just looking at how will we deal with it next year.”

Jarboe said he believed the members of the Chamber of Commerce would strongly support a long term recycling facility.

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The County Times

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By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

Funds For Winery

The Board of County Commissioners gave their nod to a lease agreement between the Town of Leonardtown and a coop of local grape growers to operate a winery in town and in so doing are now ready to provide the funds for the renovation of the winery’s future home.

“They were comfortable with the lease agreement and now they’ll release money for the construction,” said Mayor J. Harry Norris. “Over the years the building has had a lot of partitions put into it to make offices.

“They’ll really have to gut the whole thing.”

The building, once owned by the state highway administration, sits just off of Route 5 in town and

sits on land that the town has also purchased for park usage.

The Southern Maryland Wine Growers Cooperative is leasing the building from the town for just $1.

The county is providing $500,000 for the renovation of the building, which will house vats and other equipment that county officials and grape growers alike hope will produce high-quality wine.

“I really believe it’s one of the biggest things things going on in the county,” Norris said of the project that kicked off in the summer of last year. “It could start a whole new industry here in St. Mary’s County.

“I think it’s going to be successful.”

The county recently approved an extra allotment of $35,000 to aid in covering increased construction costs at the site.

Hospice Redevelopment Project Still Up For Review

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

The hearing scheduled for Monday to look over revamped plans to add a second story to the building currently occupied by Hospice of St. Mary’s was cancelled but Mayor J. Harry Norris said that the project is still on the mind of town officials.

“It’s consistent with all our downtown plans,” Norris told The County Times.

“And that’s to build up and provide mixed use development and rental properties or what they call workforce housing.”

Norris said that building the town’s downtown area up and not out would help Photo by Guy Leonard to keep its current appeal.

The town planning and zoning commission will soon review for a The only issues with developer John second time plans of a local developer to add a second story to Norris’ plans to add a level to the building, the Hospice of St. Mary’s building on Washington Street. the mayor said, have been design related. it’s going to have balconies on the front.

“At this point I don’t think anyone disagrees “Some [planning commission members] sugwith building up [on that property.]” Norris said. gested it have more brick to match the building.”

“The issue is architecture.”

The hospice organization is set to move into new DeAnn Adler, development plan reviewer facilities in Callaway in June; property which had for the town, said that the developer’s plans to previously been seized by local law enforcement as move ahead with the project may have changed part of a narcotics operation. somewhat.

The review of the plan has not been “It would’ve been a white or cream colored rescheduled. plank siding on the second story,” she said. “And

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Most Of Streetscape Project Could Be Finished By Year’s End

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

Officials with the Maryland State Highway Administration say that the streetscape project to modernize Washington and Fenwick streets in Leonardtown could finished up by the end of the year, despite previous mistakes made in sidewalk improvements that stalled the project.

David Buck, spokesman for state highways, said that previous design flaws were the fault of the state and not of the contractor doing the work.

The first section of sidewalk on Washington Street was made of non-matching material throughout and thus did not meet

with the newly formed guidelines; it will have to be replaced at a cost of about $50,000 added to the contract, Buck said.

But that replacement will not happen until the sidewalk improvements go in on the opposing side of Washington Street sometime in the late spring, Buck said.

By the summer the contractor hopes to put in new turn lanes on Washington Street as well as tree plantings in a new median strip, Buck said.

Just in the past week the contractor started work on storm drains on Washington and Fenwick streets and placing new curb and gutter fixtures and guardrails on Fenwick, Buck said.

But the work, which started

back up after a deep February chill, has not been without incident.

On March 10 a bucket truck employed by the contractor raised its bucket too high into some utility wires strung high above Fenwick Street, Buck reported, and when the bucket came back down it snagged wires and brought the pole down with it.

SMECO was able to replace the pole quickly, however, Buck said.

Mayor J. Harry Norris said he was pleased that the project was back up and running, even though the delays had been troublesome.

“It really is a safety and road enhancement program,” Norris said. “Overall I think we’ll be pleased with the benefits.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Maryland Makes Top 10 States for Mortgage Fraud

By The Associated Press Here are the states with the top mortgage fraud rates last year: 1. Rhode Island 2. Florida 3. Illinois 4. Georgia 5. Maryland 6. New York 7. Michigan 8. California 9. Missouri 10.Colorado Source: Mortgage Asset Research Institute

Navy Federal Stops Enforcing No-Hat Policy CALIFORNIA, Md. (AP) _ A credit union in St. Mary’s County has told workers to suspend enforcement of its ``no hats, hoods or sunglasses’’ security policy while officials decide how to apply it fairly.

According to an internal memo obtained

by The Washington Post, Navy Federal Credit Union employees have been told not to approach anyone wearing a hat, hood or sunglasses _ but also not to remove signs prohibiting the items.

Senior vice president of security for the credit union, Tom Lyons, says the change will give officials time to determine what training is needed to make sure the policy is implemented consistently.

The memo was issued days after employees at the credit union asked to serve a Muslim woman wearing a head scarf in a back room.

Lyons says the workers’ acted inappropriately because the woman was clearly identifiable.

The County Times

Psc Chair Discusses Regulation Bill With Lawmakers ANNAPOLIS (AP) _ Legislation to give Maryland regulators more authority to direct utilities to build new power plants won’t have much effect on consumers’ electric bills for at least several years, Maryland’s Public Service Commissioner said Friday.

Douglas Nazarian, the PSC chairman, has been discussing the measure with members of the Senate Finance Committee for the past two days. The bill, which is backed by Gov. Martin O’Malley, would return some of the authority that the PSC lost as a result of Maryland’s decision to deregulate in 1999.

Lawmakers, who have been besieged by e-mails and phone calls from constituents with high energy bills, have been interested in knowing how this legislation could spell relief. ``Passing this bill or not passing this bill is not going to materially move peoples’ rates up and down this year or next year or the year after or probably the year after that,’’ Nazarian said. ``What it’s going to do is change the way we manage the supply and demand mix, which over time will affect rates.’’

One of the main problems, supporters of re-regulation say, is that Maryland has not had significant power generation built in the state since 1992. Consequently, the state has to import more than 30 percent of its electricity from other states, which costs more.

A key part of the bill gives the PSC the ability not only to direct utilities to build

power plants, but it also gives electric companies eminent domain to build on a site controlled by another company. Critics of the current system say some companies don’t want to build more power plants, because they are benefiting from the existing market conditions. ``This bill would allow us not only to direct somebody to build but would allow us to give them the authority to go get the good site to build on, so we wouldn’t be subject to market forces in that regard,’’ Nazarian said.

Some senators on the committee, however, have expressed wariness about moving quickly on the bill.

Sen. Rob Garagiola, D-Montgomery, also has questions about the measure. He pointed out that other deregulated states are seeing new power plants developed, and he said he has become ``far less convinced that we need to do this.’’ ``I’m not convinced necessarily that pushing this legislation forward and saying we want to go back to re-regulation is going to be better for the ratepayers from a cost perspective,’’ Garagiola said Thursday, when Nazarian also discussed the bill with the committee.

Sen. E.J. Pipkin, who supports the bill, said he’s optimistic it will move forward, despite the questions lawmakers have. ``This is a complicated issue,’’ Pipkin, R-Cecil said. ``There’s always a lot of questions surrounding it. We’re in the process of dealing with those questions, and now ultimately we think we can get that done.’’

Md. Senate Approves Text Message Ban While Driving ANNAPOLIS (AP) _ The Maryland Senate has overwhelmingly approved a ban on sending text messages while driving.

The vote was 43-4.

The legislation would create a maximum $500 fine for a violation, which would be a misdemeanor.

Supporters say sending text messages while driving is just too dangerous. The bill now heads to the House of Delegates.

There currently are no restrictions on adults in Maryland for using hand-held telephones or electronic devices while driving. A minor with a provisional driver’s license or learner’s permit is not allowed to use a wireless communication device while driving, except to call 911.

Currently, seven states and the District of Columbia prohibit driving while texting.

Fans Rally For Prince George’s Soccer Stadium ANNAPOLIS (AP) _ Fans of moving the D.C. United professional soccer team to Prince George’s County plan rallied in Annapolis before heading to hearing rooms to testify in support of the move.

About 60 fans responded after the official D.C. United Web site urged them to show support for public financing of a stadium in Prince George’s.

Some legislators say they’re skeptical about a bill that would allow the Maryland Stadium Authority to sell bonds to build the potentially $195 million venue.

They say they’re concerned about whether the stadium would generate enough revenue to pay off 75 percent of the bonds.

Team officials have said they’d pay 25 percent of the stadium’s costs and say the balance would be covered by revenue from soccer games and other events.

The County Times

To The Editor:

Oyster Dredging; Is The Public Good Served?

Dear Editor,

The natural resources of the State of Maryland, specifically those found in and under the Chesapeake Bay are the property of the citizens of our great state, and by that I mean ALL the people. Consequently, the MD Legislature and the MD Department of Natural Resources must manage the use and exploitation of these resources to the greatest good and welfare of all Marylanders. When laws/regulations are enacted that are favorable to a few and not for the overall good, that causes a great deal of conf lict, and sows the seeds of political discontent.

To your attention, a section of the Patuxent River was protected from oyster dredging for years and now proposed legislation HB 584 titled “Patuxent River – Oyster Dredging – Authorization” sponsored by two of Southern Maryland’s elected representatives: Delegate Tony O’Donnell (Dist 29c) and Delegate Sue Kullen (Dist 28) threatens to undo years of sanctuary and survival by old growth oysters.

I ask Del(s) O’Donnell and Kullen to what good do they aspire with this proposed legislation? Why will future Marylanders be served by wiping out old growth oysters, and is this legislation really to the overall good of all Marylanders, or even to the majority of their own constituents?

My position is that opening oyster sanctuaries to commercial harvest is not a good idea. The reasons in support of my position are numerous, but I am not alone in my reasoning. Three notable stakeholders in this upcoming decision are on record to also be in opposition and their reasoning should not be ignored.

Those opposing HB 584 at the very first hearings were: the MD Dept of Natural Resources, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and the MD Coastal Conservation Assn. as well as a host of individual conservationists. These three organizations are actively working hard to restore oysters into Chesepeake Bay and the CCA has piloted a “Grow Your Own Oysters” program in the tributaries of the Patuxent River to replenish oysters, which result in improved water quality.

Those in support of the proposed legislation are: MD Waterman’s Assn, Calvert

Media Should Be Fair RE: P. A4, The Washington Post, 3/12/09, “Signing Earmark – Heavy Bill, Obama says He Aims to Curb Such Spending” The referred to article is an outstanding example of looking at both sides of the coin.

The staunch Democrat will read the article and examine the list of Republicans who are “divvying up the pork” and scream about how the Republicans are stuffing the Pork Pie Bill with earmarks. That’s one side of the coin.

The other side of the coin shows the Republicans screaming about the media bias and how the article is only showing Republican earmarks. “Where are the Democrats earmarks?” is the Republican cry.

However, this particular coin has, believe it or not, three sides. The third side is a campaign promise by His Eminence, Prez Obama:

Waterman’s Assn and a few individual local oystermen.

There is another group of supporters, lurking in the background waiting for the opening of this sanctuary. Remembering that once the no-dredge sanctuary the water is open to commercial waterman, literally any Maryland licensed dredger can and will go there. And so nearly every oysterman within a hundred miles of the middle Patuxent River awaits their turn to catch their limit.

Oysters are valuable to Maryland as seafood but more importantly as filter feeding organisms, capable of filtering hundreds of thousands of gallons of river water throughout their natural lifetimes.

The longer that they live, the more capable they become. Of course, if dredged and harvested, their filtration ends abruptly and this ruins the recovery of the Patuxent River.

The interests of the commercial oyster industry has historically been balanced against two conf licting considerations.

Firstly, there is the need to manage a resource in a way to assure natural reproduction will replace the oysters that are harvested. And second there is the disease factor; that Dermo and MSX is wiping out our natural stocks, and so old growth oysters that might still exist because of their resistance to these killers will be removed from the reproductive process.

And lastly, any student of natural resources management will recognize the lunacy of authorizing the commercial dredging of a protected area set aside previously to protect those old growth stocks.

I urge Del O’Donnell and Kullen to rethink their positions on HB 584. Many folks up and down the Patuxent River, living in Calvert and St Mary’s Counties are raising oysters under their own piers in the tributaries and later releasing these mature filter feeders into main river sanctuaries as their contribution to help clean up Patuxent River.

Are the efforts of their constituents to be thwarted by the short term economic benefits of oystermen determined to wipe out what oyster stocks we have remaining?

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Editorial:

Commissioners, Board of Education Need To Slow Down

There are more than a few unanswered questions still surrounding the decision by the St. Mary’s County Commissioners to purchase a large farm, known as the Hayden property, outside of Leonardtown for $5 million.

We know more about the federal government’s trillion-dollar stimulus plan contained in 800-plus pages of documents that was developed and voted on in two weeks than we know about the decision to purchase this tract of land. Despite being talked about behind closed doors for nearly two years, the public was never informed about it or given the opportunity to weigh in.

But now that the commissioners have committed to buying the site, they should not rush to develop it without a clear analysis of our county’s overall needs and the current economic climate that faces the citizens of our county.

The commissioners, the Library Board and the Board of Education are anxious to begin building a new elementary school and a new library on the 177-acre site located off Route 245 near the headquarters of the Southern Maryland Electricity Cooperative.

These projects need to be studied thoroughly and tested by the economic conditions and market changes we have seen in the past 18 months. Just because these projects may have been in a plan three years ago does not provide sufficient cause to push forward without considering the current situation.

Just as important, there is no evidence that the location of the farm is the most suitable to advance these plans immediately. There is no analysis that we have seen that identifies this property as most suited for these projects: no site analysis, no census tracking, no geographic forecasting and no future modeling. There is science involved in site selection; we have seen none.

It appears there is a rush to justify paying $2 million more than the appraised value of $3 million for this property by quickly building new buildings, regardless of the needs.

There is a demonstrated need for a new library in Leonardtown, which would also help the local economy. The development and redevelopment of small towns such as Leonardtown is one of the components of “smart growth” that is actually smart.

Even more so than the courthouse and the post office, a new modern library in town would be Capt Brady Bounds a cornerstone that would help ensure a vibrant cenLexington Park, MD tral business district. Think about the way a downtown library would transform the town square on evenings and weekends. The opportunity is just too great to pass up. It would be like building a “No more earmarks!” This promise and its Wal-Mart downtown without the Wal-Mart.

Government providing infrastructure that enfailure to be kept shows how much value a presidential promise is worth. Oh, yes! That’s courages the private sector to invest in these areas right. He promises that the next time around he’ll bar earmarks. Right. If I believe that, I also believe in Sasquatch and the moon is I was very impressed by your AP report that made of green cheese. a Muslim woman took her stand against the Navy It is odd, though, that after reading the arFederal Credit Union by refusing to be served in ticle one is left with the impression that only the back room. That is not just the rightful action Republicans use earmarks. Wouldn’t it be a of a Muslim woman but of an American woman, little more fair if a list of ALL the earmarks, and rightly so. with their originators, both Republican and What troubles me is that this sort of religious Democratic were listed? Oh well, the chance bigotry would happen in Maryland, and even here of that happening is about 20% of the chance in our St. Mary’s County. We are the State of reof winning the lottery. ligious freedom as Maryland is the “Free State” and here they want an American woman to use the James H Hilbert back room because of her Muslim religious attire.

Mechanicsville, Md And your article reports that the Navy Credit Union has no shame in it, but demands the action

not only assures a vibrant business community, it also protects against sprawl by making redevelopment in towns financially possible. We are not suggesting the library won’t work on the Hayden property, we just don’t believe a full analysis has been done.

As for beginning the process to build a new elementary school on the site, the need to slow down is very clear. With the recent opening of the newly enlarged Leonardtown Elementary School this year and the opening of the new Evergreen Elementary next year, the immediate need for another new elementary school has not been demonstrated.

Times have changed, growth in St. Mary’s County has come to nearly a standstill and controls have been put in place that prohibit the fast growth rates of the past, not to mention the soft economic conditions that are not likely to change for some time.

As demonstrated by the chart of student enrollment on page 13 of this edition, St. Mary’s Elementary School enrollment decreased in the past year. Also, the addition of Evergreen Elementary will mean that as many as 12 of our 18 elementary schools will have extra capacity next year.

That means as many as 650 seats will be available in our current schools, equal to having an entire school empty. Or better stated, equal to having an entire school open with teachers, staff, electricity and all the costs, with no students.

The extra capacity is in schools located from Leonardtown and Hollywood south. The schools located in the northern part of our county are over capacity. With Banneker, Lettie Dent, Mechanicville, and White Marsh all over capacity, maybe the next major project should be to address these schools. With both White Marsh and Mechanicsville being older and smaller facilities, possibly a remodel and expansion of either one of these facilities such as was done at Leonardtown Elementary makes good sense.

Even better, why not build another green school like Evergreen in northern St. Mary’s that would replace both Mechanicsville and White Marsh? This would provide approximately 200 additional seats to meet the need plus a new modern school for students from both schools, and economies of scale for the taxpayers.

Schools are not only very expensive to build, they are also very expensive to operate. No one likes to have overcrowded schools, yet when schools are well under capacity, then too many taxpayer dollars are directed to costly facilities rather than to children’s needs.

Evidence seems to show we won’t need more elementary school capacity for 8 to 10 years. Maybe we should take a deep breath and be certain we aren’t compounding mistakes.

Protecting People’s Right vs. Safety

as being for “security” as if their fear is to over ride the 1st Amendment of the US Constitution.

I say most Americans know the words of Ben Franklin who said; “Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”

The Navy Federal Credit Union might let the fear rule over it, but I say we can thank the American Muslim woman for having the courage to defy that fear.

Sincerely, James P. Cusick Lexington Park, Md

The County Times

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Speaks

info@cherrycove.com

Quote Of The Day

There is nothing more likely to start disagreement among people or countries than an agreement.

-E. B. White

Donations, Grants Boost Libraries’ Computer Muscle

By Sean Rice Staff Writer

A case of overwhelming community support resulted in the St. Mary’s County Public Library achieving an 18-month fundraising goal in just five months last year.

In turn the library board of trustees decided to set the fundraising goal higher to assure county residents have access to the newest technology at the library’s three branches.

In January, the library received its first dis-

earlier this month “So it’s paying off already in terms of concrete new services for our customers,” Reif said “And I think it’s cool for donors to see that, because sometimes you give money for projects and you don’t see where it’s going.”

The added computer stations help the library facilitate more services for the community, Reif said, such as a new “Passport” partnership with the Community Development Corporation’s Jobs Connection program.

“Our library staff went down and met with

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Library patrons at Lexington Park take advantage of a new bank of computers.

bursement of $11,700 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Opportunity Online Hardware Grant. The second payment of $6,500 is scheduled to arrive in May. In order to qualify for the Gates grant totaling $18,200, the library was required to raise a match amount of $10,400 by June 2009.

“We raised that in five months,” said Kathleen Reif, St. Mary’s County Public Library director.

The board of trustees saw the outpouring of community support and decided to “try to raise an additional $20,000 by June, and they have already raised close to 12,000 of that,” Reif said.

Nine new computers were added in the Lexington Park branch with grant funds in January, which also covers the cost of installing the required wiring and furniture. Four computers were also added at the Leonardtown branch

Robin (Finnacom) and we created another formal partnership called the ‘passport’ for Jobs Connection clients that come to the library,” Reif said.

Library staff will negotiate with Passport clients that have back library fines to help get them immediate access to computers for job searching.

“The staff will recognize that some people are just beginning to use a computer and they’ll need to spend more time with them,” Reif said.

Job Connection staff will be designing classes on job searching, resume writing and other topics that library staff can use to help Passport clients.

Communty members interested in helping the library meet its fundraising goal can contact Reif at 301-475-2846 ext. 1013, and all three branches have technology endowment fund donation forms available.

Tea Party Rally Planned for Solomon’s Island The Calvert County Republican Party is throwing a “Concerned Citizens Tea Party” rally on Sunday, March 22 at 2:30 p.m. in Solomons.

Come join us at the Pavilion in Solomons to help us fight “out of control” spending in Washington and Annapolis that is mortgaging our kids future.

Music by DC-area country artist John Luskey. Great speakers, including Delegate Tony O’Donnell, Dr. Jim Pelura, Md. Repub-

lican party chair, and several others.

Bring your own homemade poster sign.

If the Pavilion lot is full there is plenty of additional parking behind Our Lady Star of the Sea Church and at the Tiki Bar which doesn’t open till mid-April.

For additional information please contact Ron Miller, Communications Director, Calvert County Republican Central Committee at: ron@teamronmiller.com or at (410)-474-3778.

Wines TBD

Friday, March 27th, 2009 6:30 p.m.

Seafood Cocktail Jumbo Shrimp, Sea Scallops and Lump Crab in an Old Bay Rimmed Martini Glass Atop Mesclun Three Onion Soup Creamy Soup in a Freshly Baked Boule Garnished with Blue Brie

Legume Salad Garbanzo and Kidney Beans Marinated in Olive Oil, Garlic and Fresh Herbs in a Romaine Leaf Cup with Alfalfa Sprouts San Pellegrino Sparkling Water Stuffed Pork Tenderloin Stuffed with Roasted Pistachios and Sausage with a Spicy and Sweet Barbecue Glaze Miniature Individual Cheesecake With White and dark Chocolate Ganache and Raspberry Swirled Crème Anglaise

Lenten and Vegetarian alternatives available upon request

Dinner without Wine $46.95 Dinner with Wine $59.95 Tax & Gratuity Not Included

for the love of

Money

The County Times

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Hershey’s Kisses Are Called That Because The Machine That Makes Them Looks Like It’s Kissing The Conveyor Belt.

10

un Fact

‘Culinary Infusion’ Raises Thousands For Scholarships

By Sean Rice Staff Writer

The third annual “Culinary Infusion” is taking place next week at Café des Artistes in Leonardtown.

The $100-per-plate event is a signature fundraiser for the St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation’s health care scholarship program.

The Foundation’s scholarship program pro-

vides tuition money for Southern Marylanders looking to enter the health care industry in highdemand fields.

Since 2001 the program has awarded 70 scholarships.

“The goal is to keep talented individuals in Southern Maryland,” said Lisa Howard, development specialist for the hospital.

“Each year we look at where the critical areas are, and that’s where we focus the scholarships,”

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Howard told The County Times, adding that current needs exist in the fields of nursing, ultrasound and radiology.

The scholarship is open to residents in St. Mary’s, Charles and Calvert counties, and it is not only for high school seniors, Howard said. This year’s recipients will be announced in April.

One of the requirements under the program is that recipients begin working at St. Mary’s Hospital after college.

During the three years that Café des Artistes has hosted the “Culinary Infusion” the event has been a hit.

“We sell out every year,” Howard said.

This year is no different. Only 100 tickets are available and very few are left as of earlier this week.

Café des Artistes donates 100 percent of the food, service and time to the event, which is being held at 6 p.m. March 27.

“One hundred percent of the proceeds go to the foundation,” Howard said.

For tickets or more information on the event, contact Howard at 301-475-6455.

Photo by Andrea Shiell Owners Loic and Karleen Jaffres at Café Des Artistes in Leonardtown.

Business Group Hopes To Invigorate Square

By Sean Rice Staff Writer The new owners of St. Mary’s Square in Lexington Park are executing plans to give the shopping center a facelift. At the same time, shop owners are joining together in efforts to re-brand the plaza as a vibrant shopping destination.

A new merchant’s association is brewing in St. Mary’s Square, and a second meeting of interested business owners was held last weekend to talk about pooling their efforts to drive customers into the area.

Robin Finnacom, president of the Community Development Corporation, attended both meetings organized thus far by business owners, along with County Commissioner Dan Raley, and the county’s sheriff and economic development office.

Finnacom said their efforts to organize and plan special events lead to a win-win situation with the plaza’s owners.

“They have tremendous potential,” Finnacom told The County Times. “And forming a business association at this time in St. Mary’s square is really opportune because they’re working now with a property owner who is ready to reinvest in the square.”

Tina Garrison, owner of Hair in the Square, has been voted president of the association by members of the group. They plan on meeting monthly.

The new association is targeted at increasing sales in the Square by taking an active approach to the revitalization efforts taking place in Lexington Park.

The group also hopes to increase referrals between the nearly 20 merchants in the square.

“So that you get the business owners helping and marketing each other when appropriate,” Finnacom said.

The new merchant’s association coincides with efforts by the plaza owners, St. Mary’s Square,, LLC, to revitalize the center. The new company took ownership two years ago.

“The new owners have been very aggressive and very positive in filling the vacancies and identifying users for the pad sites,” Finnacom said.

A new McDonalds is being constructed on a pad site that has gone unused since the plaza was built, and they have “active prospects” for the pad sites at the former Hyundai dealership and Buffalo Wings and Beer, Finnacom said.

The square is also set to receive new landscaping, paint and the original sign will be replaced.

Uninsured Can Get Free or Reduced Health Care

St. Mary’s Hospital is recognizing “Cover the Uninsured Week” by increasing awareness of their payment assistance program with added opportunities to visit the Health Connections Mobile Outreach Center next week.

St. Mary’s Hospital offers a Payment Assistance Program for hospital services to those patients who are determined eligible. If you are eligible, you may receive services at no charge or at a discounted rate.

“We are here to serve your health care needs, regardless of your ability to pay,” a St. Mary’s Hospital press release states.

You can find out more about the hospital’s financial assistance on the Health Connections Mobile Outreach Center. The van will be in the

following locations throughout Cover the Uninsured Week, which runs March 22 to 28: • March 23 – Lexington Park Library from 1-5 p.m.

• March 24 – Millison Plaza from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with additional information for Diabetes Alert Day • March 26 – McKay’s in Great Mills from 10 to 2 p.m.

• March 28 – Leonard Hall in Leonardtown from noon to 4 p.m. with additional information for Disability Day For more information about Cover the Uninsured Week, visit www.CoverTheUninsured. org or www.smhwecare.com.

11

The County Times

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Defense & Military More Jobs Coming To Pax River With New Programs

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

County Commissioners were encouraged this Tuesday after a meeting with the commanding officer of the Patuxent River Naval Air Station when they learned of the new jobs that will be coming to the county attached to long-awaited new programs.

The regular meeting between county commissioners, county staff and naval command staff also discussed issues of development encroachment and its affects on the navy’s local flight operations.

Capt. Andrew Macyko, naval air station commander, said that the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program will hit its full stride on the base, bringing an additional 750 people to the county.

Of that number, 210 were already here, Macyko said.

“That’s the biggest project I can think of that’s coming here,” Macyko told the gathered officials.

Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (D-Great Mills) was concerned that the new fighter, which employs the latest in stealthy, radar defeating technology, and can take off from a static position, would create more noise in the community.

Tom Briggs, a Integrated Test Force Manager for the Joint Strike Fighter Program, said that these would be the first vertical take off and landing tests done at the base in about 15 years and the concur-

rent noise would likely increase.

“That requires higher power settings,” Briggs said of the new aircrafts ability to take off with out a long runway.

Navy support staff at the meeting reported that the F-35 project would only take up about 3 percent of the station’s overall flight operations.

Programs for unmanned air systems (UAS) or remotely piloted vehicles will also make their way to the base and to the Webster Field annex in St. Inigoes for test and evaluation in the next three years.

One project, called the BAMS, which is nearly identical to a large unmanned drone used by the U.S. Air Force, will be tested for navy use at Patuxent River, according to the new UAS director Jeff Rusher, by 2012.

By 2017, he estimated, the navy’s compliment of unmanned aircraft would increase to about 2,000.

“It will probably surpass the number of manned aircraft,” he said.

The advent of a large unmanned attack aircraft for carrier use, called the UCAS, scheduled to come in 2012 will bring between 20 to 30 new people to the county with more personnel to come as the program grows.

There are currently only two aircraft in the UCAS test program now.

130 Tombstones Unearthed

By Sean Rice Staff Writer

trees,” Lawrence told The County Times. “If you didn’t know it, you wouldn’t know.”

Additional research has shown that the number of people interred there is closer to 700, Lawrence said.

“That’s all that they saw,” he said of the Navy’s initial numbers. “The others were unmarked or marked with wood … That cemetery was there for 200 years, so some were already covered over that the Navy never saw.”

In last six months alone, Lawrence and Gibb have raised nearly 40 stones.

Lawrence secured funding for the project through a partnership with the St. Mary’s County Genealogical Society, though funding has dried up recently and donations are still needed.

“The project has been going on so long it’s kind of fallen off people’s radar,” Lawrence said.

“It’s more of a passion than anything else at this point.”

After six years of work unearthing buried grave markers at the St. Nicholas Cemetery on Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Scott Lawrence is still hard at work restoring the once buried cemetery.

The two-acre cemetery near the current base chapel is on Cedar Point Road, the main road through the base. Until Lawrence began work to restore the hallowed ground, no visible clue was left indicating a cemetery dated to 1795 once stood there.

Now 130 grave markers have been raised and restored by Lawrence, a St. Inigoes native, and archeologist Jim Gibb, Ph.D, of Annapolis. At least 80 more remain underground awaiting restoration.

When the Navy took ownership of the land for the base in the 1943 a decision was made to cover up the Catholic cemetery. Navy lore has it that pilots have a superstition about flying over graveyards.

“I think it’s kind of a bad excuse. I mean, come on … it’s a little fishy,” said Lawrence, who is a defense contractor with Booz Allen Hamilton.

Lawrence learned from his grandfather that his ancestors, who arrived in St. Mary’s County the 1640s, were buried at St. Nicholas.

“I was a little shocked as you could imagine,” Lawrence said about when he learned the Navy laid-down and buried all the markers in the cemetery.

After more than a year of wrangling with Navy officials, Lawrence finally got permission to start excavating, starting with 13 known graves of veterans. Lawrence got his hands on a map prepared by the base’s public works department, indicating 320 people were buried at the site.

“They were exactly where the map said they were, Scott Lawrence with headstones that he restored from and it was green lawn and buried and broken pieces.

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The County Times

Thursday, March 19, 2009

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12

Thursday, March 19, 2009

un Fact

Know

The County Times

Education

In The

13

“I Am.” Is The Shortest Complete Sentence In The English Language.

Robobees Taking Robotics Battle State Oversees SMCPS Capital Improvements Leonardtown Renovation Project Under Appeal To Regional Championships Andrea Shiell Staff Writer

ics, and reinstallation of the bleachers. Other projects include a new security vestibule for Park Hall Elementary School.

The Board also voted unanimously to enter into contract negotiations for the purchase of the Hayden Farm in Leonardtown. The property is planned for housing a second new elementary school, and is included in the FY 2010 state capital improvements request.

In the meantime SMCPS officials are focusing on the completion of Evergreen Elementary School, and still trying to push through funding for renovations at Leonardtown Middle School.

During his visit, Comptroller Franchot toured the building and met with Board of Education members and school system staff regarding the project, which is currently under appeal with the state.

Comptroller Franchot’s remarks were very positive regarding the project. “Help is on the way,” he said.

A funding announcement for the FY 2010 state capital improvements program will follow the close of the Maryland General Assembly in April 2009.

On March 12, Peter Franchot, comptroller of Maryland, visited Leonardtown Middle Schooll. His visit related to St. Mary’s County Public Schools’ fiscal year (FY) 2010 state capital improvements program request for construction funding for the limited renovation of Leonardtown Middle School.

The requested renovation project would replace and/or renovate five major building systems, including the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, as well as the fire sprinklers, lighting, security, public address system, and wireless technology.

This renovation plan joins a list of other CIP funding proposals outlined at the Board of Education meeting on March 11, including a $141,923 project replacing the hardwood gymnasium floor at Chopticon High School, with plans including the removal of the existing floor, repair of the sub-floor, installation of new maple hardwood flooring, painting of new graph-

Elementary School Enrollment Numbers

Photo by Andrea Shiell Forrest Tech Center teacher and robotics coach Dave Buddenbohn with last year’s robot, “Inspector Gadget,” and students Alex Yuen and Gregory Bergin.

Andrea Shiell Staff Writer Machinery whirred and beeped at the Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Tech Center in Leonardtown Tuesday as teacher Dave Buddenbohn walked through his classroom eyeing a large robot in the corner with four motors, front wheel drive, and a pneumatic armed, compressed spring shooter that can fire balls while driving.

The robot, affectionately named “Inspector Gadget,” was his team’s player last year in the regional robotics championships.

This weekend his robotics team, the Robobees, will take their newest robot named “Bolt” to the Chesapeake Regional Robotics Championships at the U.S. Naval Academy.

“This is our eighth year,” Buddenbohn said. “The first robot that we built was just a simple, one-dimensional robot, but probably in the last four years we’ve become a lot more sophisticated… two years ago we had a very good robot, it was very powerful.

“And this year’s robot is probably a little bit simpler than in previous years… but it does everything,” he added, describing this year’s model, which boasts a loading conveyer belt, six-wheel offset drive with FP motors and an AM Planetary Transmission.

In the last two years, the Robobees have been the number one seed after

qualifying rounds, but have been eliminated in the semifinals. This year Buddenbohn said the team may just go all the way to the national competitions, which will be held in Atlanta, Ga. in April.

This year’s team is made up of students from Leonardtown, Chopticon, and Great Mills High Schools, as well as some from Patuxent High School; a network Buddenbohn said he wanted to see grow in future years. In the meantime, the Robobees are setting their sights on this weekend’s competition.

“This year I think we did really well,” said senior Alex Yuen, who will compete with the Robobees team this weekend. “We went into the semifinals and did really well. Our team is really good and we have a good robot.”

Teammate Gregory Bergin echoed the sentiment, saying he felt this year’s robot may be the one to catapult the team to nationals.

“We’ve never really had any mechanical issues with it,” Bergin said.

“As far as competition goes, it can really hold its own, so I’m really excited.”

“The biggest reward for me is seeing these kids and their success,” Buddenbohn said. “Probably 90 percent of my students are going on to college and they’ve got jobs now with the base or with contractors, so they’re in a winwin situation.

“The biggest reward for them is winning.”

Elementary Schools North of Rt. 245 Hollywood-Leonardtown Rd

Official Enrollment 2007-2008 year

Official Enrollment 2008-2009 year

Change From Last Year To This Year

Using 08-09 enroll 2009-2010 year Including New Evergreen School

Banneker Dynard Lettie Dent Mechanicsville Oakville White Marsh

631.0 433.0 555.5 334.0 416.5 264.0

633.5 454.5 560.0 348.0 422.0 255.0

2.5 21.5 4.5 14.0 5.5 -9.0

633.5 454.5 560.0 348.0 288.0 255.0

590.0 463.0 512.0 284.0 357.0 238.0

43.5 -8.5 48.0 64.0 -69.0 17.0

TOTAL North of Rt. 245

2634

2673

39

2539

2444

95

Chesapeake Charter G.W. Carver Green Holly Greenview Knolls Hollywood Leonardtown Lexinton Park Park Hall Piney Point Ridge Town Creek Evergreen

162 428 440 500.5 627.5 537 429 555.5 579.5 260.5 273 0

193 419.5 424.5 472.5 576.5 562.5 478.5 544.5 548.5 237 238 0

31 -8.5 -15.5 -28 -51 25.5 49.5 -11 -31 -23.5 -35 0

193 419.5 349.5 382.5 421.5 523.5 478.5 544.5 494.5 237 238 577

201 507 617 437 512 613 507 519 563 246 237 646

-8.0 -87.5 -267.5 -54.5 -90.5 -89.5 -28.5 25.5 -68.5 -9.0 1.0 -69.0

Total South of Rt. 245

4792.5

4695

-97.5

4859

5605

-746

Total County Wide

7426.5

7368

-58.5

7398

8049

-651

Total number of students to warrant state funding for new elementary school = Number of students short of number needed for state funding = Number of homes that would need to be built to add 974 students= Approximate number of years to add that many dwellings in St. Mary's=

8372

*

974

*

4530

*

9.1

*

State Rated

Enrollment Over/Under

Capacity

Capacity

* These are estimates made by The County Times based upon current economic conditions

The County Times has compiled these numbers from information provided by the St. Mary’s County Board Of Education. Of note is that countywide enrollment actually decreased in the current school year from the prior year.

Also, after the opening of the new Evergreen Elementary at the beginning of next school year, the majority of schools will be under capacity.

“Edge of Heaven” Showing at SMCM

The Democracy in New and Old Europe film series presents the Turkish-German film, The Edge of Heaven (2007).

The movie, which will screen in Cole Cinema of the Campus Center, follows the lives of six characters as they

grieve their life situations and learn the power of forgiveness. The Center for the Study of Democracy-sponsored film is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Abby Thompson at 240-895-6432 or ammeatyard@smcm.edu.

Crime&

Punishment

The County Times

County Lawyer Gets Supreme Court Win

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The Supreme Court has ruled that a class action case filed by a local attorney against Discover Bank accusing them of charging his client with excessive interest and late fees on debts can be tried in state court and does not have to go to arbitration.

Leonardtown-based attorney John A. Mattingly, who filed the class action suit six years ago on behalf of Baltimore City resident Betty Vaden, said the case was significant in that it could provide a way for credit card holders to protest their debts in a court of law at trial instead of being bound over for arbitration.

“It’s a huge advantage,” Mattingly said of the Supreme Court’s decision, which was handed down earlier this month.

“It allows us to argue her counter claims.”

The suit, which has been argued several times in lower federal courts before going to the highest court in the land, started when Mattingly’s client could not pay her credit card balance when she fell ill and lost her husband.

Discover Financial Services sued her in state court for the balance, and when she filed a class action suit that was also based on state law, the financial institution filed for arbitration in federal court.

Mattingly contends that credit card companies essentially use federal arbitration to exact debts from their customers without having to argue for them during a court trial.

“These credit card companies have abused the Federal Arbitration Act for the past 10 years,” Mattingly said, adding that the companies use arbitration to avoid losing money in class action suits where one claimant can act on the behalf of others with the same grievance against them.

The Supreme Court’s decision could have lasting and

far-reaching effects on the way credit card companies exact debts from their customers, Mattingly said, by giving debtors more of a chance to argue their cases.

But that does not mean Mattingly has won the case for his client’s accusations that Discover overcharged her and others in the nation.

“It goes back to the state court in Baltimore City,” Mattingly said. “The charges [filed by Discover] were illegal under Maryland law.

“Six years it took for the Supreme Court to rule that we can at least have our day in court; what’s happening with this lady is affecting us all.”

The case has been before the U.S. District Court once on remand from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit.

The case went through the 4th Circuit twice.

The 5 – 4 majority opinion of the court stated: “Allowing parties to commandeer a federal court to slice off responsive pleadings for discrete arbitration while leaving the remainder of the parties’ controversy pending in state court makes scant sense.”

Still, the High Court’s ruling stated that Discover could still seek arbitration in the Maryland state court.

“Because the FAA obliges both state and federal courts to honor and enforce arbitration agreements, Discover may petition Maryland’s courts for appropriate aid in enforcing the arbitration clause of its contracts with Maryland credit card holders,” the majority ruling stated.

Associate Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy David Souter and Clarence Thomas joined in the majority opinion.

Chief Justice John Roberts, along with Associate Justices John Paul Stevens, Stephen Breyer and Samuel Alito joined in the dissenting opinion.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

14

Briefs Man Charged With Attacking Deputies On March 14 at 10:43 p.m., Deputy K. Nelson and Sgt. W. Hill responded to a residence in Leonardtown for the report of an assault. Upon arrival, deputies heard a disturbance inside the residence. Nelson made entry into the residence and discovered numerous items had been destroyed inside the residence by the intoxicated subject.

James C. Orourke, age 22, of Leonardtown exited the residence and allegedly struck Nelson and pushed Sgt. Hill before running out of the garage area.

Orourke attempted to leave in a vehicle at the location but was unsuccessful.

Orourke allegedly continued to resist arrest by striking at the officers with his fists and was subsequently subdued and placed inside the police vehicle. Once inside the vehicle, Orourke reportedly began striking the interior of the vehicle with his head and spitting at the officers. Orourke was transported to the detention center, charged with two counts of assault on law enforcement officers, two counts of second degree assault, resisting arrest, malicious destruction of property under $500 and was incarcerated pending an appearance before the District Court Commissioner.

Man Charged With Firing Shot At Victims On March 15 at 12:45 a.m., deputies responded to a residence in Mechanicsville for the report of a subject shooting a firearm and threatening to shoot another person. Investigation revealed Norman J. Goedecke, age 40, of Mechanicsville was involved in a family dispute at which time he approached the three victims, allegedly displaying a handgun, and told the victims to leave. The victims turned to leave the residence and heard a gunshot. The victims turned around and reportedly observed Goedecke reloading the handgun. The victims were able to get to a vehicle and leave the area. Upon the deputies’ arrival, Goedecke was observed sitting on the front porch and was taken into custody without incident. Goedecke refused to provide the location of the weapon used in the alleged assault.

A search warrant was obtained for the residence, with the assistance of detectives from the Bureau of Criminal Investigations. Several weapons were recovered from the residence during the execution of the search warrant. Goedecke was transported to the detention center, charged with three counts of reckless endangerment, first-degree assault, second-degree assault and incarcerated pending an appearance before the District Court Commissioner.

Man Accused Of Bank Robbery Set For Trial In June

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

Trooper Gates with the Maryland State Police works at the scene of a single vehicle crash in the northbound lanes of Route 235 in Hollywood shortly after 2 p.m. Tuesday. A female driver, heading north, apparently lost control of her vehicle and went off the right side of the roadway, striking a tree near Captain Pat’s Kitchen. Medical personnel on the scene said the driver complained of neck pain and her injuries did not appear serious. A Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad ambulance transported her to St. Mary’s Hospital.

Hollywood Man Out On Bond For Alleged Sex Offense

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer A man accused of having consensual sex with a 15-year-old girl is out on bond after being arrested and charged last week with both a third-degree and a fourth-degree sex offense.

Steven Mark Cady, 27, of Hollywood, was released from incarceration at the St. Mary’s County Detention Center March 13 on a $75,000 property bond, according to court records.

According to charging documents filed in county District Court by detectives from the Bureau of Criminal Investigations, investigators were called to St. Mary’s Hospital to look into an alleged sex offense that had taken place from March 11 through March 12.

Charging documents allege that both the 15-yearold victim and a witness were brought to Cady’s residence where they were provided with alcohol which they consumed all throughout the night and into the

early morning hours of March 12.

The victim in the case, charging documents alleged, told the witness that she had had sexual relations with Cady.

Investigators interviewed the 15-year-old victim after the alleged incident and were told that both she and Cody engaged in several sex acts at his residence.

The age of consent to engage in a sexual act in Maryland is 16 years old.

The victim positively identified Cady as the man she had sex with, charging documents alleged.

When investigators interviewed Cady, charging documents revealed, he agreed to speak to them without an attorney and admitted that he had sexual relations with the victim during the late night hours of March 11 and into the early morning hours of March 12.

He also admitted that the victim had consumed alcoholic beverages before they engaged in sex, charging documents stated.

After nearly five years since the initial crime occurred, the man accused of robbing the Cedar Point Federal Credit Union in Leonardtown will finally have his day in court.

“It was specially set in because it’s going to take a long time,” said Assistant State’s Attorney Daniel White who is prosecuting Cornelius Chase for the 2004 bank heist. “The judge set it to have it’s own week.”

Chase, 47, has remained incarcerated in a state facility after being convicted of a previous robbery in Calvert County in 2006 after allegedly committing the credit union heist.

Chase faces charges of armed robbery, first-degree assault and the use of a handgun in the commission of the credit union robbery along with other felony counts.

Chase was declared competent to stand trail for the robbery in December of last year after years of legal wrangling and medical evaluations that questioned his competency to fully understand the gravity of the case against him.

The latest medical reports showed, however, that Chase was competent to stand trial and understood what was going on around him.

Chase had at one time claimed he was not reasonably culpable for the acts with which he was charged but has dropped that defense.

“He’s abandoned his claim that he’s not criminally responsible,” White said of Chase’s legal status so far.

Chase was unresponsive at his competency hearing last year before Circuit Court

Judge C. Clarke Raley, who said all the evidence showed that Chase was “a very clever individual” who knew how to manipulate the criminal justice system.

Chase so far has retained the services of a public defender to represent him at trial.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

15

Thursday, March 19, 2009

The County Times

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The County Times

Michael Ray Anthony, 16 Michael Ray Anthony, 16, of Lexington Park died March 12 in Children’s Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. Michael was born Dec. 15, 1992 in Leonardtown. He was an avid Washington Redskins fan. He loved to fish and hunt for deer, and was an active member of St. Mary’s Special Olympics.

Michael is survived by his mother, Donna Marie Boatright; stepfather Daniel Wenk; stepbrothers, Jonathan Wenk, and Edward Wenk (Christy); stepsister, Danielle Wenk; grandparents, Barbara Ann and Eddie Boatright of Dameron; great-grandmother, Marie Trossbach of Hollywood; step grandmother, Ruene Camper of Lexington Park; uncle, Glenn Boatright of Great Mills and many other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his great-grandfather, Otto Trossbach.

Family received friends for Michael’s Life Celebration March 18 from 5 – 8 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, Leonardtown. Prayers were recited at 7 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held March 19 at 10 a.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home Chapel. Pastor Ken Walker will officiate. Interment will follow in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown.

Serving, as pallbearers will be Richard Axtell, Bradley Dean, Jonathan Wenk, Glenn Boatright, Vincent Dalton, and Aaron Dalton.

Memorial contributions may be made to Children’s Hospital Center, Leukemia/Cancer Fund, or St. Mary’s Special Olympics.

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

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

William Joseph “Bill” Brickey, Sr., 68 William Joseph “Bill” Brickey, Sr., 68, of Lusby, formerly of Charlotte Hall, passed away March 12.

He was born July 2, 1940 in Beaver, Ohio to the late Joseph Woodrow Brickey and Glenna Corrine Pennington. Bill was a United States Army Veteran and was stationed in Fort Knox, Ky. and Germany. He served from Sept.

11, 1957 to Sept. 8, 1960 when he was honorably discharged.

Bill went on to become a Union Welder with the Ironworkers Local No. 5 and retired in 1987 after 25 plus years of service. He was a member of the Boy Scouts of America, National Rifle Association, AARP, and loved to go camping, hiking, hunting, traveling, and sightseeing.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Keith Brickey.

He is survived by his children, William J. Brickey, Jr. and wife

Courtlyn of Lusby, Joanne L. Lee and husband Kenneth of Huntingtown, Donna Sue Brickey of Great Mills, and Lorne D. Brickey and wife Meg of Charlotte Hall. He is also survived by his sister Phyllis Johnson of Alachua, Fla. and 12 grandchildren.

The family received friends March 18 from 2 – 4 p.m. and 6 – 8 p.m. in the Rausch Funeral Home, Lusby. A Funeral Service will be held March 19 at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Rick Hancock officiating. Interment will be March 24 at 11a.m. in the Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Cheltenham. Pallbearers will be Ken Lee, Jr., Bruce Lee, Joe Goldsmith, Allen Alvey, Alex Morgan, and Dale Henderson. Honorary Pallbearers will be William Brickey, III and Curtis Lee. The family requests memorial contributions be made to the Paralyzed Veterans of America, 801 18th St., NW, Washington, DC 20006.

For more information visit www. rauschfuneralhomes.com.

Mary Bulkeley Harvey Crosby, 96 Mary Bulkeley Harvey Crosby, 96, of Solomons Island, formerly of Adelphi, Md., died March 8 at Asbury-Solomons Island.

She was born Feb. 11, 1913 in Kalamazoo, Mich. to Mary Agnes Hatfield Harvey and LeRoy Harris Harvey. Her father, who died when she was 9 years old, founded the Biology Department at the Normal State School (now Western Michigan University) in Kalamazoo, Mich. A dormitory at WMU, Harvey Hall, is named for him. He was a close associate of the Upjohn family and participated in their pharmaceutical business.

She was predeceased by her husband of 62 years, Edmund D. Crosby, a World War II Navy Armed Guard veteran; her parents; her brothers James Hatfield Harvey, who died as an infant, and LeRoy Hatfield Harvey; and her sister Caroline Newkirk (Harvey) Sleep.

She is survived by her son, Thomas Harvey Crosby and his wife, Marilyn Anne Crosby of Lexington Park; her grandchildren, Thomas Walter Crosby and his wife Angie of Annapolis, Stacey Anne Bahr and her husband, Matt; and her great grandchildren, Blake Mary-Ashton Bahr and Josie McCrea Bahr of California, Md., Edmund Charles Crosby of Lexington Park; a niece, Caroline Maria Harvey Sears of Palmer, Ark.; and a nephew, Norman Sleep of Stanford, Calif.

In 1934, she graduated from Western State Teachers College (now Western Michigan University) with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Secondary Education with a minor in mathematics. She taught math and science in many schools, including Parchment, Mich. and Rochester, Mich., High Schools. In 1941, she began teaching at the Greenville Village School in Detroit, Mich. This

was an experimental school founded

by Henry Ford and was based on a combination of academics and hands-on experience. She taught various subjects, including physical education. She later joined the faculty of the Edison Institute High School, which was part of Greenville Village School System as a math and science teacher. One of her duties was overseeing the greenhouse that provided fresh vegetables to Henry Ford and his family.

At one point, she worked as a medical laboratory technician at the University of Michigan Hospital.

After a series of moves, she eventually retired as a Mathematics teacher in the Montgomery County school system.

She lived and worked in many cities in Michigan. She also lived in Colorado, Cedar Falls, Iowa and Chicago, Illinois.

A memorial service was held March 13 in the Asbury-Solomons auditorium. Interment followed at Middleham Parish in Lusby.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Solomons-Asbury Christmas Fund; 11100 Asbury Circle, Solomons, MD 20688.

Brian Michael Gallagher, 31 Brian Michael Gallagher, 31 of Leonardtown passed away March 9 in his residence.

Born Feb. 15, 1978 in Leonardtown he was the son of John Gallagher of St. Inigoes and Carol Hawley Gallagher of California, Md., and Stepson of Ann Gallagher of St. Inigoes.

Brian was a lifelong resident of St. Mary’s County. As a youth he played in the St. Mary’s County Soccer League. He is a 1996 Leonardtown High School graduate. He became interested in music during middle school and played trumpet in the Esperanza School band. He is an exceptional self-taught guitar player and played in a local band. His passion for art led him to enroll in a Bachelor’s program at the Art Institute of Pittsburg and to pursue a career in graphic design. Brian is missed by many local residents of the Leonardtown area where he worked as the Head Barista at Brewing Grounds Coffee Shop. Brian was both loved and admired for his quick witted sense of humor and compassion for friends and family. He was adored by his nieces and nephew with whom he spent many entertaining hours.

Brian was a longtime participant in the twelve step program of Alcoholic Anonymous. He was deeply loved by family and friends who will always cherish his kind heart.

In addition to his parents, Brian is survived by his siblings, Shana Mandeville of Orlando, Fla., Kelly McCallister of McKenzie, Tenn. and Caryl McClave of Virginia Beach, Va.; grandparents, Milton and Mary Ann Bouchillon of Louisville, Mich.;

Thursday, March 19, 2009

and girlfriend, Diana Diggins of Leonardtown.

Friends attended Brian’s Life Celebration March 13 from 6 – 8 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, Leonardtown, where prayers were recited at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial was offered March 14 at 10 a.m. in St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Ridge, with Monsignor Maurice O’Connell officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Marcey House, P.O. Box 622, Leonardtown, MD 20650.

George William “Bill” Rose, 74 George William “Bill” Rose, 74, a retired pharmacist and hospital planner, died March 9 from complications following leg surgery. He was a resident of Townsend, Del. Mr. Rose was born Sept. 27, 1934 in Buffalo, N.Y., and is the son of the late Dr. Werner J. Rose and Edith M. Rothweiler.

Mr. Rose graduated from St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute in Buffalo, N.Y. in 1951. He studied engineering for two years at the Rensselear Polytechnic Institute and then entered the State University of Buffalo School of Pharmacy where he graduated in 1957. Mr. Rose also attained the rank of Captain while serving in the 338th General Army Reserve Medical Corp.

Mr. Rose had a long and distinguished career working as a Pharmacist in both New York and Maryland.

He worked for Mearl D. Pritchard Pharmacy (Linwood-North Branch) and Sisters of Charity Hospital in Buffalo, N.Y. He also worked for Wyeth and Co. as a Pharmaceutical Sales Territory Manager. Mr. Rose was President of the Western New York Chapter of American Society of Hospital Pharmacists (1965-1966).

He retired in 1999 as a Supervisory Pharmacist working for the Navy at the Patuxent River Naval Medical Clinic in Patuxent River.

Mr. Rose also spent much of his career working as a hospital equipment planner helping to design and build pharmacies and hospitals around the world (1967-1990). He worked with Earl Meyer and Associates of Washington D.C., Shotwell-Anderson Intl. of McLean, Va., Gilbane Inc. of Greenbelt, the Nemours/Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Del. and the University of Virginia Medical Center of Charlottesville, Va. Mr. Rose was also an avid boating enthusiast. He served as a Senior Member, Past Commander and District Lieutenant in the United States Power Squadron, a national boating organization which promotes boating education and safety.

Mr. Rose is survived by his brother, Werner J. Rose, Jr. of Defiance, Ohio and five children, Robert F. Rose (PO1, USN) of Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Michael P. Rose (wife Deborah Staton) of Charlottesville, Va., Anne V. Rose of Townsend, Del., Mary E. Rose of Townsend, Del. and James W. Rose (LCDR, Ret. USN) of North Bend,

16

Ore. He is also survived by one grandchild, Amber Rose and several nieces and a nephew.

Mr. Rose was predeceased by his wife, Marie Elizabeth Gallagher, and two grandchildren, Kendra Rose and Steven Parker Rose.

Family will receive friends and relatives March 21 from 10 – 11 a.m. in Brinsfield Funeral Home, Leonardtown. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. A private funeral mass and inurnment will take place at St. Bernard’s Roman Catholic Church and Cemetery in Waterville, N.Y. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer memorial gifts be made to: Nemours/Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children Ronald McDonald House, 1901 Rockland Road, Wilmington, DE, 19803 or Heartland Hospice House, 5661 Ochletree Lane, Wilmington, DE 19808.

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

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

Sarah Elizabeth “Liz” Somerville, 81

John

Sarah Elizabeth “Liz” Somerville, 81, of Hollywood, Md., passed away March 9.

She was born April 24, 1927 in Mechanicsville to Edna Lee Chase and Francis Young.

Liz, as she was affectionately known, was educated in the St. Mary’s County Public School System. For more than 40 years, she worked at Duke’s Restaurant in Leonardtown as the head cook. People came from near and far to partake of the meals she prepared. She retired in 1985 due to arthritis in her hands, which made it hard for her to lift the heavy pans that she used daily. During her retirement, she found great joy in preparing meals for family and friends. She was an avid fan of football, basketball, and baseball. She could recite the stats of players like a pro. She also found pleasure in watching her daily soap operas and reading gossip in the Star magazine.

Liz leaves to cherish her memory two children, her son Joseph Samuel Somerville Jr. (Connie) and daughter Agnes Yvonne Somerville; six grandchildren, Kevin Nelson (Tomascine), Deborah Bryan (Alfonso), Joseph Samuel Somerville III, Joseph Nelson (Sandy), Brian Somerville, and Lonita Nelson; eight greatgrandchildren, Asia Law, DiAngelo Bryan, Brynn Johnson-Somerville, Carlonte Knott, Alexis Fogle, Alani Nelson, Niya Nelson and Kayla Nelson and her god-daughter Catherine Bush.

She is also survived by her sister Edna Miles and brothers, Randolph and Lawrence Young.

Preceding her in death were her husband Joseph Samuel Somerville Sr.; her sisters, Mary Frances Thomas, Rosalee Wigginton, and Agnes Bernice Yates; her brother Joseph

17

The County Times

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Young, her great-grandson Kevin Nelson II and her long time companion Charles Gilliam.

Liz also leaves behind a community of family and friends who loved and respected her. She will be missed for her infectious smile, her sharp wit, and her warm spirit. Although our Heavenly Father has called her home for rest, we can only thank him for blessing us with the opportunity to love this woman of great strength who continued to fight until the end to make sure her family was secure and at peace before her transition home.

Family received friends for Liz’s Life Celebration March 13 from 9:30 – 11 a.m. in St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church, Hollywood. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 11 a.m. with Reverend Ray Schmidt as the celebrant. Interment followed in the church cemetery.

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

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

Leslie Virginia Standish, 88 Leslie Virginia Standish, 88, of Solomons, previously of Hampstead, N.C., died March 12 in her residence.

Born July 11, 1920 in Westford, Mass., she was the daughter of the late Sven Gustave Swanson and Lena Clement Swanson.

Leslie was an avid golfer, bridge player, knitter, reader and lifetime crossword puzzle enthusiast. She was a graduate of Westford Academy and Bradford Business College.

She is survived by her loving husband William Lee Standish of Solomons; three beloved sons, William Clinton Standish of Alexandria, La., Kem Standish of California, Md., and John Vellom Standish of Hudson, Ohio. Leslie is also survived by seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her siblings, Varnum Swanson, Olive Wright, Vera Bettencourt, Harvey Swanson and Gerald Swanson.

Private Services to be held at later date.

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

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

Paul Albert Stasch, Sr., 82 Paul Albert Stasch, Sr., 82, of Mechanicsville died March 10 in his residence.

Born May 25, 1926 in Mechanicsville he was the son of the late August H. and Dorothea Reides Stasch, Sr. He is survived by his loving wife Agnes L. Stasch; his children, Phyllis A. Gibson and her husband John David of Avenue, Paul

A. Stasch, Jr. and his wife Paula of Okolona, Mich. and David A. Stasch and his wife Cindy of Mechanicsville; nine grandchildren, Pamela Gibson Long, Lisa Gibson Buckler, Angie Stasch Roberts, Becky Stasch Sternberg, David Stasch, Jr., Kristen Stasch, Kelsey Stasch, Kylie Stasch and Taylor Stasch; and his great-grandchildren, Adrienne Buckler, Allison Buckler, Paul Long, Katelynn Roberts, Lauren Roberts, Mary Kate Roberts, Joshua Sternberg, Justin Sternberg, Joel Sternberg and Ashlynn Sternberg.

He was preceded in death by his brothers Hans, Otto and August Stasch.

A lifelong resident of St.

celebrated March 14 at 10 a.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home with Pastor Dale Skurla officiating. Interment followed in Trinity Memorial Gardens, Waldorf. Pallbearers were Taylor Stasch, Bobby Stasch, Jerry Burch, Paul Long, Denny Raley and Glenn Buckler.

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

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

John “Alfred” Trossbach 85 John “Alfred” Trossbach 85,

bach, Ann Cecilia Trossbach, Catherine B. Trossbach all of Hollywood, Md.; four sons, Thomas A. Trossbach, Robert L. Trossbach of Leonardtown, Frank I. Trossbach, Roy A. Trossbach of Hollywood, Md.; three sisters, Alberta Goddard, Margaret Goddard of Leonardtown, Teresa Rowand of Dameron, and one brother, William “Billy” Trossbach of Dameron. He is also survived by nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Family received friends for Alfred’s Life Celebration March 17 from 5 – 8 p.m. in Brinsfield Funeral Home, Leonardtown. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated March 18 at 10 a.m. in St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church,

Caring for the Past Planning for the Future

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“A Life Celebration™ Home” Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. Brinsfield-Echols Funeral Home, P.A. 22955 Hollywood Road 30195 Three Notch Road Leonardtown, Maryland 20650 Charlotte Hall, Maryland 20650 (301) 475-5588 (301) 472-4400 Mary’s County, Paul was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Waldorf Moose Lodge, Hughesville American Legion and Steamfitters Union #602. He served in the U.S. Army from 1944-1946 where he was an army medic in the Philippines.

He was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather who enjoyed watching NASCAR races and being with his family.

The received friends March 13 from 5 – 8 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, where prayers were said at 7 p.m. A funeral service was

of Hollywood, Md. passed away in his home March 14.

Born Nov. 19, 1923 in Dameron, he was the son of the late William Otto and Mary Rosalie (Hammett) Trossbach.

Mr. Trossbach was lifelong St. Mary’s County farmer. He loved to go fox hunting with his dogs and enjoyed going to dances.

He is survived by his wife Teresa Marie (Aud) Trossbach; five daughters, Mary Agnes Burroughs of Avenue, Linda Teresa Owens of Leonardtown, Hazel Marie Tross-

Hollywood, Md. Rev. Ray Schmidt was the celebrant. Interment followed in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650; Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 50, Leonardtown, MD; or the Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 79, Hollywood, MD 20636.

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

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

Alice R. Waldschmitt, 89 Alice R. Waldschmitt, 89 of Dameron, previously of Potomac, Md. from 1959 -1974, died March 6 in her residence in the British Virgin Islands.

Born July 1, 1919 in Buffalo, N.Y., she was the daughter of late Reinald Richard and Mabel (Brice) Richard.

Alice provided many years of dedicated service to the development of St. Mary’s College of Maryland. From 1985 to 1990, Alice served on the board of directors of the St. Mary’s College Foundation, holding the position of secretary from 1989-1990. In 1990 she was appointed to the College’s Board of Trustees and completed two terms in 2001. She has been the leading patron of the St. Mary’s College performing arts program through her sponsorship of international choral performances by the College’s Chamber Singers. She was also a great friend of the St. Mary’s College sailing program and established the Joseph Waldschmitt Memorial Championship “Best in Fleet” trophy awarded during the Governor’s Cup Regatta.

Alice attended Connecticut College for Women. She enjoyed painting, gardening, tennis, and sailing along with numerous volunteer activities that included the Garden Club, the Arts Alliance, the St. Mary’s River Yacht Club and her alma mater, Connecticut College.

She is survived by her son Robert Waldschmitt and his wife Carol of Solomons; three grandsons, Robert Joseph Waldschmitt and William Christopher Waldschmitt both of Solomons and Michael Ryan of Lexington Park. She is also survived by a niece, Nano LoPresti.

She was preceded in death by her husband Joseph A. Waldschmitt; two brothers, Walter Richard and Robert Richard and a sister Jeane Richard.

Family received friends March 16 from 9 – 11 a.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, Leonardtown.

The Rev. Scott Woods, pastor of St. Cecilia Catholic Church, St. Mary’s City, officiated. Interment followed in St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery, Ridge.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Three Oaks Center, P.O. Box 705, Lexington, Park, MD 20653 or Hospice of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650 Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.

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

The County Times

Thursday, March 19, 2009

18

Economy Prompts Gyms To Lower Membership Costs

Man Becomes A “Minor Energy Mogul”

MILLERSVILLE, N.C. (AP) _ For all the headaches in running a small hydroelectric power plant, Allen Haneline doesn’t regret joining North Carolina’s ranks of minor energy moguls.

“What it takes,” he said, “is someone who loves the outdoors and likes to get wet. You get wet about every day.”

Beaver-gnawed sticks float down the Lower Little River northeast of Hickory and wrap around Haneline’s circa-1919 turbines, the guts of a plant he bought three years ago. “You can literally see the kilowatts fall,” he said, sniffling after a recent repair.

As owner, operator and chief mechanic, he dons waders, descends into a room below the dam that leaks water with the force of a fire hose, and sets to work. Cleared of debris, the turbines whirl again and pollution-free electricity races off to Duke Energy’s lines.

The Charlotte Observer reported that Haneline is among a rising number of N.C. entrepreneurs hoping to wrestle energy _ and profits _ from the sun, wind, water and organic wastes. Their output, called renewable energy, is still so small that it’s barely measurable against the coal- and nuclear-fueled power that dominate the state.

But they have reason for optimism _ and investment.

A recent law dictates a growing role for renewables in the state’s energy mix, beginning next year. Generous tax credits salve the sting of investing in expensive technology. And an energy-focused president believes he can help heal the economy by developing alternatives to fossil fuels.

It’s fertile ground for tinkerers chasing the next great idea.

That describes Richard and Jerry Tucker, brothers and engineers who live in Locust, 20 miles northeast of Charlotte. The Tuckers have patented a device that superheats landfill garbage, producing methane gas and carbon in a process that they say emits no pollutants.

Four-foot flames, fueled by methane, shot into the night air recently as they demonstrated their invention for potential customers and investors. The methane could generate electricity or heat homes or boilers, the Tuckers say. ``What we produce is, in a sense, a transition fuel,’’ Jerry Tucker said. ``It’s a transition between foreign oil and solar, wind, hydro and geothermal energy.’’

Like the Tuckers, most renewable-energy firms are small, according to a recent survey by the N.C. Sustainable Energy Association. ``We get a lot of folks saying, ‘I’ve got a great idea that I built in my garage,’’’ said Paul Quinlan, the advocacy group’s research and development director. ``Some will work and some won’t.’’

Businesses that turn algae into engine fuel and hog manure into electricity were among the first to win grants last year from the N.C. Green Business Fund.

The state-created pool of money encourages promising technologies with grants of up to $100,000. Nearly 300 grant requests poured in this year.

Homeowners are also becoming energy producers.

More than 200 owners of solar-power systems, most of them at homes, sell renewable-energy ``credits’’ to N.C. GreenPower, a nonprofit group. Ten to 20 more join each month. Duke Energy buys electricity from about 100 small generators in the Carolinas.

But it will take commercial-scale projects for utilities to meet the state’s renewable-energy mandate, the first in the Southeast when legislators approved it in 2007.

Its initial goal is modest: Renewables are to generate 3 percent of total utility sales in 2012, rising to 12.5 percent by 2021.

Specific goals for solar power begin next year. Duke has signed contracts to buy electricity from a massive solar farm to be built in Davidson County and from a Durham project that generates power from landfill gas. The company is looking for more power sources.

Some companies that specialize in solar power both install equipment and generate power for the grid.

FLS Energy in Black Mountain will build a one-megawatt solar farm and sell the electricity to Raleigh-based Progress Energy, helping the utility reach its state solar-power mandate. The company sometimes leases solar systems to property owners, allowing them to avoid up-front costs. Launched in 2006 with two people, the company employs 20 and expects its workforce to double over the next year.

“The marketplace is expanding exponentially,” said president Michael Shore. ``There’s a lot of business opportunity.’’

For now, renewable energy is expensive compared to coal and nuclear plants, which cost billions to build but are relatively cheap to run. Low electric rates have made it hard for alternatives to gain a foothold in the Southeast, said Bob Leker of the State Energy Office.

Leker expects that to change as old power plants are replaced, raising electric rates, and as advances in technology lower the price of solar panels and other hardware.

In the meantime, entrepreneurs search for untapped energy like miners searching for hidden ore. In Rob Creighton’s case, that means looking to the Carolina sky.

Creighton’s fledgling Durham company, WindLift, makes electricity from kites. Like the Wright brothers, his laboratory is the windy Outer Banks.

Recently transplanted from Wisconsin, Creighton has a master’s degree in business administration and previously worked in biotechnology.

But he quickly came to appreciate the wind’s power _ two kilowatts per square meter of kite in a 22 mph breeze, to be precise. His ``flexible airfoil,’’ as it is properly called, captures the wind’s energy the way a sailboat does, powering a reciprocating pump or generator on the ground.

“That’s the real challenge, finding ways to harness it,” Creighton said. “The energy is there.”

Safely Turn a Yard Into a Play Area Yards can add a lot to a home. For gardeners, a sprawling outdoor space can act as a weekend getaway of sorts, allowing homeowners the chance to go outside in the spring and summer sun and escape all of life’s other distractions. For parents, a yard can be a great place to let kids play and enjoy themselves, all within viewing distance of Mom and Dad’s watchful eyes.

Though backyard playgrounds might not be as prevalent as they once were, that doesn’t mean they’re still not fun for kids. Of course, a backyard play area is only as fun as it is safe, so parents considering creating one for their kids should consider the following tips before beginning such a project. * Be mindful of drainage. Building a play area in a spot on the lawn that doesn’t have proper drainage is asking for trouble.

During winter, such areas are likely to have excessive ice, threatening kids’ balance and potentially leading to injury. Even in warmer months, poor drainage could result in puddles after spring or summer rains, attracting mosquitoes and other insects and making kids more susceptible to bug bites. * If possible, build in a relatively shaded area. While it might not be possible to create the play area entirely in the shade, try to keep

as much as possible out of the sun. This will protect kids from the sun, particularly during those hot summer afternoons when kids love being outdoors but UV rays are at their most harmful.

Though you’ll want kids to be protected from the sun, it’s important not to build in areas that are concealed by trees. This will impede parents’ ability to watch their kids as they play. * Build away from patio or barbecue areas. Erect play areas away from patios or barbecue areas. In addition to concrete sidewalks that can hurt children, you won’t want kids playing anywhere near charcoal, starter fluid or propane tanks. * Install a padded surface or sand around swingsets and jungle gyms. Instead of building on grass or hard ground, when building the swing set or jungle gym be sure to install a padded surface underneath, or use sand.

Both will help cushion kids in the almost inevitable circumstance that they fall. Sand and padded surfaces will decrease the risk of head injury and broken bones. Recycled rubber pellets and even wood chips can provide more cushioning than the hard ground during a fall. GT094044

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) _ Tough economic times don’t mean having to give up gym and fitness center memberships.

For the past year, Donita Darrett of Union Bridge has been a member of the Frederick County YMCA. She works out two to three times a week and takes her 5-year-old daughter to ballet and gymnastics classes.

A single mom, Darrett receives a monthly scholarship from the YMCA, which provides financial aid to qualifying families. ``I’m so grateful for them doing this,’’ Darrett said. ``When you go to the Y it’s like your second family.’’

Currently, the YMCA has 11,000 memberships between its two Frederick County branches. About 10 to 15 percent of memberships have been granted financial aid, said Daria Putnam-Steinhardt, CEO of the local YMCA. While the Y has always offered financial assistance, it recently added a few additional deals to help members cope with the poor economy, namely members who have lost their jobs. ``We basically felt that if you get laid off from your job, it doesn’t mean that you have to lose your Y,’’ Putnam-Steinhardt said. ``It’s a very affordable place to come and have family activities so people don’t want to give that up.’’

Until further notice, the YMCA is giving members who submit documentation of a job loss a 30-day grace period in which membership fees are waived. If a member must cancel membership after the 30 days, the joining fee is also waived if the member decides to rejoin. ``We’re trying to make sure that people don’t feel like there’s another stresser in their life that they have to deal with,’’ Putnam-Steinhardt said, adding that exercise is vital during stressful times.

Additionally, newly unemployed members who have already signed up and paid for programs and camps will be refunded for programs that are not used.

For child care, the YMCA normally requires a two week notice for ending the child’s enrollment.

However, if a parent has been laid off, the two week notice is unnecessary. If the child is eventually re-enrolled, the $25 re-enrollment fee will be waived.

Putnam-Steinhardt said that she has not seen a decrease in YMCA memberships, but has heard several members saying they lost their jobs.

Since the YMCA is a nonprofit 501 3(c), the funds for scholarships come through community fundraising, Putnam-Steinhardt said.

One of the YMCA’s major fundraising programs is its Annual Campaign for Kids, in which local business leaders contact donors and community members to raise money for the financial assistance program, according to Patrick Hogan, the Y’s director of development.

Naomi Lee and her children have been taking full advantage of the YMCA’s scholarships for the past four years. Like Darrett, Lee is a single mom, who otherwise would have been unable to afford a membership. ``I’m glad they gave me a chance and the opportunity to let my kids enjoy it,’’ she said.

Besides the YMCA, other local fitness centers have found their own ways to deal with the economy.

In December, Fitness First on West Patrick Street began offering new deals for helping members cope with the rough economy. It has reduced its membership fees from $34 to $29, while new members receive five free one-week membership passes for friends and family, said Karl Noyes, general manager.

Noyes said he has noticed a slight decrease in memberships from January 2008 to January 2009.

Gold’s Gym on Buckeystown Pike also has its share of financially friendly deals, such as a zero-down initiation fee, said manager Craig Gaddis.

Planet Fitness, on West Patrick Street, which opened in December 2008, charges $10 a month, along with a $29 start up fee, according to co-owner Jerry Woods.

The community has embraced the deal and ``we’ve been nothing but growing,’’ Woods said.

19

The County Times

Thursday, March 19, 2009

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A House is a Home

The County Times

Thursday, March 19, 2009

20

The Fairest Mirrors of Them All Can Remake a Room

(AP) When Louis XIV decided that the royal palace at Versailles should have a huge Hall of Mirrors, his minister of finance saw an opportunity.

Jean-Baptiste Colbert, a fierce nationalist, was determined that Paris be able to compete with Venice in producing luxury products like silk, lace and mirrors. He recruited Venetian artisans to come to Paris to craft all 357 of the hallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mirrors. They devised a method of pouring hot glass onto an iron table that allowed them for the first time to make really big mirrors.

With its elaborate ceiling art and solid silver tables, lamps and orange tree pots, the magnificent 17th century hall was the setting for balls, births, even the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.

We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t live in glittering palaces, but many of us do tend to think of mirrors as a tad gaudy, a bit Vegas, and not a material we can decorate with easily.

None of which need be true.

We might consider mirrors the

way feng shui practitioners do. They see mirrors as serving three purposes: expansion, reflection, deflection.

A well-placed mirror, particularly one that reflects an open doorway or window, can open up a small space. It doubles the feeling of space and, in feng shui, serves an even greater function: Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s believed that when a mirror reflects something good _ such as a family portrait, pleasing scenery or symbolic object _ its positive effects are doubled.

Bagua mirrors, on the other hand, are seen in feng shui as bad-energy deflectors used on the outside of the home.

A mirror clad in a pretty or unusual frame will enliven the most basic room. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a focal point in bathrooms, functional in bedrooms and closets, can serve as accent pieces on dining room walls and in foyers, and add height and light to small, dark spaces. When designing a room, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the one thing I almost always use,â&#x20AC;? says designer and HGTV celebrity Will Smith.

Notes New York designer Geoffrey Bradfield, â&#x20AC;&#x153;mirrors give a room an illusion of infinity.â&#x20AC;?

Round mirrors can be especially smart looking. Pottery Barn has an Art Deco-style beveled glass beauty that hangs on a faux leather strap. Another is wrapped in sustainably harvested cherry tree bark.

In Rocky Mount, Va., Uttermost has a stable of artists creating mirror designs, such as Grace Feyockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Raindrops,â&#x20AC;? a constellation of tiny mirrored circles orbiting a larger one. Her â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kellanâ&#x20AC;? is a swirl of silver leaf around a beveled mirror, and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tamrynâ&#x20AC;? boasts a headdress of woven palm tree fibers.

Horchow offers a hand-painted, wood-framed mirror designed by Janice Minor that looks like it<s bristling with porcupine quills.

And mirrors donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be hung. Prop one on a dresser or console with a few favorite objects placed in front of it; youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll enjoy your things from two vantage points.

A large mirror placed at floor level in an entryway comes in handy.

Horchowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s version features a mirrored frame, which helps bounce the light around.

Sundance Catalog has a casement style framed in steel, reminiscent of old warehouse or country mill windows.

MirrorMate, in North Carolina, offers groupings of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pizzazzâ&#x20AC;? custom-framed mirrored squares, with a personalized look. Use them as artwork run up to the ceiling, or as a decorative headboard.

The company also custom frames existing â&#x20AC;&#x153;rawâ&#x20AC;? mirrors, such as bathroom vanities. The frames attach directly to the mirror. Do the perimeter or, on an especially large mirror, frame just the area over the sink to add a dramatic, â&#x20AC;&#x153;finishedâ&#x20AC;? look.

Lisa Huntting, the creative brain behind the concept, says it was her own move to a new home in Charlotte, N.C., that sparked the idea. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Though I was decorating the bathrooms with accessories and pictures, they just never looked â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;doneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; because that huge mirror remained

naked!â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; she says.

The frames also help solve issues like edge-silvering, or unattractive mirror clips, she says. They run about $100-$200, depending on size and style.

Seura, a Green Bay, Wis., firm, has adapted new technology to create a sleek mirror/television combination. Turned off, you have an attractively framed mirror, but press a button and the mirror morphs into an LCD TV screen.

Featured on some home design programs, the product found its way into upscale hotels before interior decorators took notice of it as a way to ``hideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; the TV. Tim Gilbertson, Seuraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s president, says that even given todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ravenous appetite for technology, ``we still may not be willing to compromise atmosphere, or give up the comfort of a calm, sophisticated environment.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Mirrored finishes also are turning up on dressers, shelving, backsplashes, candlesticks, even fireplaces as a relatively inexpensive way to add glamour and lightplay to a space.

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21

Thursday, March 19, 2009

The County Times

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

Similarities and Differences of Compost and Mulch

CALL US

(AP) Compost and mulch. Both are great soil conditioners, but how do they differ?

Each serves as a time-release fertilizer and insulator.

When augmented with livestock and poultry manure, nutrient-rich compost leaches into the earth and feeds countless microorganisms, earthworms and fungi. With time, watering and mixing, discarded green kitchen scraps, yard litter and garden wastes decay into crumb-textured “brown gold” _ a greatly enhanced growing medium.

Mulch, meanwhile, is a protective cover that also works its way into the topsoil. It’s made up of natural or synthetic substances _ everything from crushed rock and plastic sheeting to wood chips, discarded newspapers and straw.

Mulch minimizes gardening chores by smothering weeds, conserving moisture, eliminating erosion and aerating packed soils. It also protects tender plants from frost and cold in winter, and from evaporation and heat stress in summer.

Compost generally is applied as a soil amendment in late fall or early spring in layers 1 to 2 inches deep.

Coarse mulch then can be layered over the enriching compost to protect young plants from the elements.

Both are available for little or no cost, but there are some cautions about their use.

Regarding compost: • Beware nitrogen burn. I planted a shoulder-high blue spruce on a hillside several years ago and covered its root ball with a new batch of manure-rich compost. It was too new and too rich. It soon took on the look of a discarded Christmas tree by dropping its needles and turning copper in color. It was dead, the victim of a toohot compost and an overeager gardener. The moral of the story? Allow compost to mature before using it.

• Don’t introduce weeds into your garden by way of the compost bin. Inspect plant and garden debris before adding it to the pile.

• Place composting sites well away from the house. Decomposition often produces unwelcome odors. Decaying mixtures frequently attract insects and snakes. The operation also might be unsightly. Consider screening it.

• Leaves decay more quickly when shredded. Grass breaks down faster when turned. Adding such things as seaweed, livestock and poultry manures loads the blend with nutrients. Wood stove ashes contain potassium and sweeten acidic soil. Coffee grounds perk up acid-loving plants like blueberries, azaleas and rhododendrons and help loosen compacted ground.

• Don’t spread compost over edible garden crops if any of its components were sprayed with a pesticide.

Regarding mulch: • More is not necessarily better. Mulch can over-winter bark-gnawing voles and other plant-killing critters.

• Don’t pile mulch directly against tree trunks or shrubs.

It can smother them. Rake it instead into a doughnutlike pocket where water can collect.

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

The County Times

Thursday, March 19, 2009

A House is a Home

22

Buyers, The Time is Now!

By Patrick Dugan Contributing Writer Seriously, what are you waiting for?

Interest rates are low, prices are low, inventory is high, the government is giving you money to buy. This is the time to get out there and choose a home.

Interest rates; Right now you can get all sorts of quotes on interest rates. Even as low as 4.25%. In reality if you have good credit you should expect to pay right at 5% on your mortgage. This is a great rate. In order to get the extra low rates that you see advertised, usually by internet lenders, you have to “buy down” the points, or go with an exotic loan.

However, if you go with a traditional loan, you can still be at 5% for your mortgage and know that you are dealing with lenders who know what they are doing. It is a good time to ask your potential lender how many of their clients took out exotic loans in the past and are now in foreclosure. If their foreclosure rate is high, perhaps they are not the lender you want to choose.

In other cases the owner of the house may be able to do “Owner financing”.

This is another way to get into a home with a potentially great loan.

Prices are low; you can buy houses at the same price people were buying houses 6 years ago. In many cases you can even get them at lower prices. You can buy houses that are in foreclosure and save even more. There is also a deal out there on “Short sales” where you can save as well. If you do not want a short sale or a foreclosure, perhaps new homes are what you may want. Many builders are offering huge savings over their previous prices and you can save a ton by getting yourself a Realtor and going to the builder to negotiate a great deal. Many Realtors, myself included, receive weekly updates from builders agents telling us about homes and land that is going on sale. By using an agent to represent you, you can save thou-

sands of dollars on the advertised homes or land!

Inventory is high; In Economics 101 in college we all learned the rule of supply and demand. When demand is high and inventory is low, the price of that particular item will sky rocket. Well right now we have a high inventory, and a lower demand. This is creating great opportunities for you as a buyer.

Free Money; we all know that nothing is free, and if the government is giving you something it is probably something they took from you in the first place and will make you pay for in the future.

But instead of being so cynical, let’s look at the tax credit of $8000 you can receive for buying a house before December 1st of 2009.

You need to buy the house after January 1st of 2009 and before the first of December 2009. You can get a credit of $8000, towards your income tax payments. This is a great opportunity to use money that you would have sent to Uncle Sam to buy a home instead!

The time is right to look at your finances, figure out what you need to do to qualify for a loan and the tax credit. The best place to start is by calling me and getting some direction on what you need to do. Sometimes I find that we need to work with you for a while to repair your credit or amass a down payment. Sometimes I find that you do not need a large down payment and that a government backed loan will be right for you, and sometimes I find you are ready to walk out the door and start looking for a home today. Either way, contact me and we can start you on your way to being a home owner.

Thanks you for reading this week’s article and if you have questions, or comments please contact me at PatrickDugan@mris.com

23

The County Times

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Wanderings of an Aimless

d

Min

Spring’s Debut

By Shelby Oppermann Contributing Writer The signs are here; Spring is finally making its debut. Several times since December small glimpses have shone through. Those special days of 60 or 70 degree weather that vanish by evening or the next morning are a

treat. The difference in mood seems evident.

Shoppers appear happier, the sounds of motorcycles are heard on the roads, and one night I heard my first peep frogs of the season.

The hyacinths partially came up two months ago during one of those warm spells, and froze in height at about one inch above the ground. My large sage plant made it through

Book Review “Amberville” by Tim Davys

c.2009, Harper

$19.99 / $25.99 Canada

By Terri Schlichenmeyer Contributing Writer A crisis of great proportions happened at your house last week, and you’re still reeling: your toddler lost her favorite stuffed bear, and there was no household peace until it was found, just where she left it.

Remember secretly believing that stuffed animals came to life when you were sleeping? Remember the trauma of being separated from your bear or bunny or kitty?

In the new book “Amberville”

by Tim Davys, Eric Bear may be separated from his beloved wife forever, unless he finds something that may not exist.

Eric Bear is a good stuffed animal.

He’s got a decent job and a nice house.

He’s a respectable member of his community, and married to the beautiful, graceful Emma Rabbit. But Eric Bear has a past…

Once upon a time, Bear was top man for Nicholas Dove, an evil crime boss who ran Casino Monokowski, where gambling, drugs and alcohol were plentiful.

Nicholas Dove took care of his boys back then. But Bear left that life long ago.

Now Dove is pecking around, asking for payback.

For decades, rumors have swirled about the “Death List”, a weekly roster of animals targeted for disappearance. It’s whispered that, on a certain night each week, Chauffeurs drive the color-coded streets of town and take away animals whose names are on the list.

But it’s a rumor, that’s all. Nobody knows for sure if the Death List exists.

343 pages

Nevertheless, Nicholas Dove heard that his name is on this supposed list. He tells Eric Bear to find it and remove the name. And if Bear doesn’t, Dove’s gorillas will find Emma Rabbit and tear her apart. Eric Bear knows it’s not an idle threat.

Four days is all Eric Bear’s got. He enlists the help of his three oldest friends: Snake Marek, an animal who lives up to his name; Tom-Tom Crow, who lives with demons of his own; and Sam, a “drug-intoxicated homosexual prostitute gazelle”. With his friends’ help, Eric Bear begins to think…

But someone else is thinking, too.

Years ago, when Eric’s parents put their name on the cub’s list, they ended up with something they weren’t expecting.

Eric Bear has a twin brother, and Teddy wants to be Eric.

I didn’t like this novel when I started it. It just didn’t make a whole lot of sense.

But then I let myself relax into this grown-up fairy tale of good and evil, double - crosses, truth, and lies, and I was captivated.

“Amberville” is, to be sure, a very quirky mystery. Author Tim Davys has created a dark parallel world of characters that are stuffed with human foibles and fears. Reading it requires a suspension of comfort, particularly if you’re used to “normal” mystery novels. Reading it, once you get past the first few chapters, is worthwhile.

Keep in mind that, despite the cover, this is definitely not a book for kids. It’s dark and complicated and not cuddly at all. Still, if you love noir mysteries, pick up a copy of “Amberville”, stuff yourself in a chair and enjoy.

the entire winter until last week and then suddenly went from lush green to crumpled gray.

It won’t be long before the circle of Irises poke through the mulch and show their beauty, at least until my husband starts mowing again. That reminds me, I want to get some railroad spikes.

I have a love-hate feeling about the coming of Spring. I get so happy knowing mild, jacketfree days are on their way. The trees and grass start their season out with bright apple-green colors and everywhere are purple fields of clover and thistle. Eyes start to water and noses run.

It’s delightful. The hate part (and that really is too strong of a word) is not so much for the accompanying allergies, as in the feeling that the year is advancing too quickly again. I used to not feel that way. I couldn’t wait for Spring each year, but now it seems like those few precious months are gone in a twinkling.

Does anyone still get new Easter clothes? I remember favorite sweaters of yellow and pink as a little girl. I love yellow clothes even though I’ve been told I look awful in them. You have to feel happy in a yellow dress or shirt. Ask anyone who has seen the picture of me from 1966 in my yellow dress, tights, and yellow ducky glasses.

Everyone smiles when they see that photo. My walls are warm yellow at work, and our living room is yellow at home. It’s always sunny and happy and spring-like to me. Robert’s horrified expression at the living room walls at first was hard to take, but he likes it now. Could be worse, my bedroom growing up was neon yellow and orange.

We drove down south to Scotland on Saturday, and I know it was only the other end of St. Mary’s County, but I swear that the buds were already out on the trees. Route 5, from St. Mary’s City on down was lined with Redbud.

The taller trees looked like they had small buds, which were showing on them as well.

One of the sure signs of Spring in Mechanicsville is at Mr. and Mrs. Owens flower farm on Mechanicsville Road. I know it’s the real thing when I see Mr. Owens outside turning over the soil. They grow beautiful flowers for Spring and Summer, and lots of colorful mums for Fall. You can get great growing advice and uplifting conversation when you see them.

My friend Glory Ann and I were remembering Spring in Clinton. That always meant Easter Monday in the Park. Cosca Park would go all out and have bands play on all the different parking lot levels, with food vendors, we were especially remembering the hot dogs, and a general carnival atmosphere. The Easter egg hunt was huge.

It was a lot like what the Governmental Center in Leonardtown holds for Easter.

The most wonderful memory for me of Spring is of Easter baskets, whether I was the one receiving them as a child or the one creating them for my sons. I made them a little different for my sons than what my Mother did – she always added a small bottle of Harvey’s Bristol Cream Sherry. Maybe because of Harvey the rabbit, maybe she wanted me to knockout for a while so she could take a nap. But, one of the most beautiful sites on a early, sun-filled Easter morning is to see the sunlight streaming through the colorful cellophane wrappings around the overflowing baskets. What a warm feeling – it’s almost as warm as the sun shining through our church’s stained glass windows on that same Easter morn. Cheers to Spring.

To each new day’s adventure, Shelby.

Please send comments or ideas to: shelbys. wanderings@yahoo.com

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The County Times

There are 5 things different between Picture A and Picture B. Can you find them all?

1. The ___ Four (Beatles) 4. Not good 7. Explosive 10. Thick piece of something 12. Gulf of, in the Aegean 14. Of she 15. Ethiopian monetary unit 16. 2nd to win 17. Islamic month of spring 18. N.E. Brazilian state 20. Huck’s author Mark 22. Trucks 23. Restaurant bill 24. Ca_____: waterfall 26. Member of U.S. Navy 29. Drinking establishment 30. Pan’s Indian princess 34. Alias 35. Not high 36. Leader Zedong 37. Wellington is the capital 42. Mitt’s wife 43. Inclines 44. Set to end 47. Trailer truck or semi 48. Nuclear near reach weapon 49. The third hour, about 9

Last Week’s Puzzle Solutions

ner

KiddKioer

CLUES ACROSS

Thursday, March 19, 2009

a.m.

51. A group of 6 53. Spanish surrealist Joan 54. Greek Titan 57. Unstressed-stressed 60. Old world, new 61. Brief letters 62. Chinese dynasty 63. Similar suffix 64. Electromagnetic force 65. Senior officer

CLUES DOWN

1. A federally chartered savings bank 2. Boxer Muhammed 3. A cutting remark 4. a.k.a. Spinel ruby 5. Macaws 6. Medical practitioner 7. Siamese 8. One point N of NE 9. Denotes three 11. Opera praise for female performance 12. Compact piano 13. English, Irish or Gordon 17. Jewish spiritual leader

24

19. Possessed 21. So. branch of the lower Rhine 24. Interests, behalfs (pl.)

25. Move very slowly 26. Stitched 27. Legendary violinist Mischa 28. African antelope 29. Cast out 31. Ailments 32. Indian city 33. Distant 38. Don Diego de la Vega 39. A long narrative poem 40. Sea between Greece and Turkey 41. Coercion 45. Telephone switch 46. Electronic communication 48. Allied H.Q. (abbr.)

49. Men’s neckware 50. P____: bird resting place 52. Speaker’s platform 53. Japanese apricot tree 55. Foot digit 56. Your store of information (abbr.)

58. ___bo: Latin dance 59. A tropical constrictor

25

The County Times

Thursday, March 19, 2009

un A rat can go without water longer than a camel can.

Fact

Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Will Hold a Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Will Hold a FundraiserAt At Fundraiser

Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Will Hold a Fundraiser At

Community

The Newtowne Players Announce Auditions for One-Act Plays

The Newtowne Players announce open auditions for two weeks of one-act plays featuring published works and original scripts.

The seven plays range from light comedy to drama to tragedy and include roles for people of all ages. Volunteers for costumes, sets, lighting and props are also welcome.

Auditions for the first week of one-acts will be held March 22 from noon to 2 p.m.

Leonardtown and March 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. Show dates are April 30 to May 3. This week showcases professional scripts, such as The Philadelphia, out a comedy

by David Ives calling for milies and Friends are encouraged to dine in or carry on Monday March two men (ages 20-30) and one woman (age 2009 to help support an incredible 2 day event that I’m participating in on 20-30) and Morning Coffee, a drama by rd Stroppel calling for one man and ay 2-3 , Families 2009.and The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Frederick in Washington, D.C. I’m Friends are encouraged to dine in or carry one woman, and Not My Cup of Tea, a comon Monday March 23rd, 2009 to helpof support an incredible ng 39out miles to impact the lives millions who are affected by breast cancer edy by A.F. Groff with roles for two women 2 day event that I’m participating in on May 2-3rd, 2009. The (ages 50-80). who have made dwide.Avon I’m honored to beinwalking thousands of others Walk for Breast Cancer Washington,with D.C. I’m walking Auditions for the second week of one39 miles to impact the lives of millions who are affected by ame courageous commitment: to help raise awareness and funding for this acts will be held March 24 from 6:30 to 9 breast cancer worldwide. I’m honored to be walking with thouand March 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. vastating disease. will the sleep tents,commitshower p.m. in semi trucks, and push sands of others who We have made same in courageous ment: to help raise awareness and funding for this devastating ourselves far beyond what we ever thought we were capable of doing. disease. We will sleep in tents, shower in semi trucks, and push ourselves far beyond what we ever thought we were capable of doing.

Leonardtown

Show dates are June 4 to June 7. This week showcases original scripts, including Babu’s Burgers, a comedy calling for a burger joint owner of Indian descent and five male character actors; The Wake, a comedy calling for four women (one elderly) and one male; Butterfly, a drama/tragedy calling for two middle-aged women and one woman between the ages of 18-25; and A History of St. Mary’s County, MD in 23 Minutes, a comedy calling for four to six male character actors.

Auditions will consist of cold readings from the scripts and will be held at Three Notch Theatre at 21744 South Coral Drive in Lexington Park. Rehearsals for the first weekend should begin within a week of casting. For more information, please contact Lisa Gregory at lisaenvironmental@gmail.com or Kerry Robinson at kinkerry@verizon.net or call the theatre at 301-737-5447.

s are encouraged to dine in or carry out on Monday March upport an incredible 2 day event that I’m participating in on The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Washington, D.C. I’m mpact the lives of millions who are affected by breast cancer red tothe beproceeds walking with of others rtion of raised thisthousands night will be donated to thewho Avon have Walk formade Breast Jennifer Stroud s commitment: to helpParticipant raisethisawareness andtofunding for this A portion of theCancer: proceeds raised night will be donated the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer: Participant Jennifer Stroud e. We will sleep in tents, shower in semi trucks, and push March 23rd, 2009 from 4pm-8pm March 23rd, 2009 from 4pm-8pm yond what we ever thought we were capable of doing.

Local Students Named To Hood’s Dean’s List The Provost’s Office at Hood College announces the local students who qualified for the spring dean’s list. Both full-time students, enrolled in at least 12 credit hours, and part-time students, enrolled in at least six credit hours,who have no outstanding incomplete grades and have earned at least a 3.5 grade point average, are eligible.

California: Morgan Wright; Great Mills: Sharina Miller; Park Hall: Benjamin Caplins.

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A certificate below must presented to your to ceeds thisbenight willbe donated Avon Walk forCall rtificate raised below must presented tobe your waitress orwaitress at the the front counter. or at the front counter. reast Cancer: Participant Jennifer Stroud

Dine In or Carryout

March 23rd, 2009 from 4pm-8pm

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Cuisine

The County Times

& More

On The Menu

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!

At the Sterling House on Leonardtown Square 301-997-0008 www.corbelsrestaurant.com Old fashioned charm and elegance radiate from the moment you enter the restored circa 1850 mansion beautifully located with a view of Leonardtown Square. The cuisine that follows is sure to equal your high expectations. Chef Leo Dilling has produced an outstanding menu featuring soups and appetizers, salads and creative entrees prepared from scratch everyday using herbs from their garden and fresh local produce.

Lunch entrée prices range from $6.75-$14.50 and include a large selection of salads and sandwiches, fish or pasta. Dinner entrees range from $16.50$28.50 and include steak, seafood and pasta all delicately prepared with special seasonings and sauces. A full service bar and extensive wine list is available for your enjoyment. Lunch is served Tuesday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Dinner is served Tuesday-Thursday, 5:00-9:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5:00-9:30 p.m. Sunday brunch is available from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. featuring a special menu. Corbel’s offers private accommodations for meetings or parties of various sizes. With the warm weather approaching watch for the opening of Corbel’s porch seating with a new menu of casual fare.

A beautifully decorated, oak trimmed bar welcomes you after your dinner or for a little down time after a hard day at work. Happy hour is from 4:00-6:00 p.m. and features half price appetizers such as their specialty bistro style mussels and prosciutto wrapped mozzarella. One of Corbel’s talented bartenders will prepare your favorite cocktail or one of their original specialties.

Experience fine dining that rivals some of Washington’s finest restaurants right here in beautiful St. Mary’s County.

On The Vine Blackstone Winery, California Wine www.blackstonewinery.com When it comes to enjoying the big, rich fruit that is Blackstone’s signature, no occasion is too small. Located in the Sonoma Valley and Monterey County, Blackstone wineries invite you to unwind, relax and uncork a flavor bomb.

Blackstone Winery was founded in 1990 with the goal of producing well-balanced wines to complement good food, good friends and good times.

Pair Blackstone Merlot, with its ripe texture and bright cherry fruit flavors, with grilled burgers, rack of lamb or tomato based pastas. Dry, full bodied Blackstone Cabernet Sauvignon, with its flavors of black cherry and licorice, pairs wonderfully with hearty beef dishes as well as delicate pork loin roasts. Blackstone Sauvignon Blanc is bright and fresh with good texture and acidity and goes great with seafood, cheese and crackers or slip it into your picnic basket for a real treat. Blackstone Pinot Grigio is a light, crisp wine with great texture and acidity that pairs nicely with seafood, sushi or quiche. Blackstone Monterey Riesling has a hint of sweetness and enticing fruit flavors that pairs great with desserts and spicy foods. Whatever your favorite varietal is you will enjoy Blackstone Wines at an affordable price of under $11.00 a bottle.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

26

Healthy Bites Asparagus

A delicious sign of better weather

By JIM ROMANOFF For The Associated Press Asparagus not only is a pleasant and affordable harbinger of spring, it also does great things for a healthy diet.

Asparagus is extremely low in calories and is packed with vitamins. When buying asparagus, choose stalks with dry, tight tips and firm, unwrinkled stalks. And fat stalks don’t necessarily mean tough asparagus. Older plants produce thicker spears, but they can be just as tender and flavorful as thin ones.

It’s more important to select spears that have a uniform thickness so they cook at the same rate.

Asparagus loses its vitamins and sugars quickly when left at room temperature and is best eaten the day it is purchased. To keep asparagus for longer, treat it as you would a bouquet of flowers by cutting off a bit of the woody base and standing the bunch in an inch of water in a container in the refrigerator.

To preserve nutrients and flavor, don’t boil asparagus. Better is to steam the stalks for 5 minutes. Other options are to grill them for 2 minutes per side, stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes, or microwave in a covered, vented container with 1/4 cup of water on high for 4 to 6 minutes.

Cooking asparagus at high heat in the oven concentrates its flavors and yields stalks that are delicately wilted and beautifully browned.

This recipe for roasted asparagus with spring onions and sundried tomatoes straddles seasonal flavors with the deep richness of the tomatoes and the freshness of scallions. The dish has only a small amount of added fat, which comes from the flavorful oil the tomatoes are packed in.

Recipe

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH SPRING ONIONS AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES Start to finish: 25 minutes (10 minutes active) Servings: 4 1 1/2 pounds asparagus, bottoms trimmed 2 bunches scallions, ends trimmed 2 tablespoons finely chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, plus 1 tablespoon of oil from the jar 1/4 teaspoon salt Ground black pepper, to taste Heat the oven to 450 F. In a large bowl, toss the asparagus and scallions with the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes.

Transfer to a baking sheet and arrange in an even layer. Season with salt and pepper.

Roast for 7 minutes. Stir the vegetables and roast until tender and slightly browned, about another 5 minutes.

Sprinkle with chopped sun-dried tomatoes and toss to combine. Serve immediately or at room temperature.

Nutrition information per serving (values are rounded to the nearest whole number): 94 calories; 36 calories from fat; 4 g fat (1 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 11 g carbohydrate; 5 g protein; 5 g fiber; 161 mg sodium.

27

Thursday, March 19, 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

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Call For Current Specials!

Help Wanted

St. Mary’s County Health Department

MHIC: 98388

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

Accepting applications to update our list of qualified applicants • CHN/RN/LPN • Transportation Driver • Coordinator Special Programs • Sanitarian/Trainee • Computer Network staff • Outreach Worker • Environmental Aide • Office Clerk/Assistant • Fiscal Accounts Clerk • Income Maintenance Specialist

Send Resume: St. Mary’s County Health Department PO Box 316 Leonardtown, MD 20650 Fax: 301-475-9425 EOE

Vehicles 2005 Ford Explorer. This is a great truck. There are no problems at all with it. All routine maintenance has been kept up with the vehicle maintenance schedule.

It also comes with an extended warranty good until 03/31/11 or 60,000 miles. It is the premium care warranty through Ford. The truck is dark red in color and has graphite color interior. It has a V6 motor so it does get good gas mileage. Blue Book valued this truck at a little over $10,000 so it is priced below that to sell quickly. We are selling this truck because we don’t have a need for 3 vehicles any more. Price: $9,000. If interested, please call 240-925-7849.

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

Room The The TeaTeaRoom Open Daily Open Daily

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

General Merchandise Viola like new. GREAT CONDITION!!!! Beats the rental fees for school students. Price: $50. Please call 410-414-5457.

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

Newtowne Players Spend the Night in the Dog House

By Andrea Shiell Staff Writer

the stage, proclaiming him her “god” as the sparks continue to fly between him and his wife, who from the beginning protests Sylvia’s presence and begs Greg to get rid of her.

Though Sylvia offers Greg a break from a job he dislikes and a wife who seems more concerned with her own career than him, the dog becomes a major bone of contention between the married couple, setting off a series of hilarious and touching complications that force them to pause and reconsider their own relationship.

Sylvia, played marvelously by Rebecca Dehorme, almost serves as a third party, a kind of mistress competing with Kate for Greg’s affection, and the strain on their relationship may almost make one stop to wonder if a dog with a human name can, indeed, become more than man’s best friend.

Sylvia will be playing at the Three Notch Theater in Lexington Park from March 20 – April 5.

For show schedules and ticket information, call 301-737-5447 or visit the playhouse online at www. newtowneplayers.org.

What can a dog offer its owner?

Of course these furry companion animals can bring laughter, enjoyment and good company, but what if this little creature were to become a barrier between a man and his lover, then what?

One answer may be found in the play “Sylvia,” an award-winning romantic comedy by contemporary American writer A.R. Gurney, and the latest offering from the Newtowne Players.

One kind character says it best when he claims, “if you give a dog a woman’s name, then you’re liable to start treating her like a woman.” And such is the problem when Greg (played by Thomas Esposito) brings home Sylvia, a street-smart poodle-Labrador mix with a sweet but slobbery disposition; and it is his wife Kate (played by Andrea Hein) who first raises the issue with not only the dog’s name, but the dog itself, even as the pretty pooch prances across the stage to curry favor with her new owner, who found her abandoned in the park.

“The play is about a couple who are in their mid-40s and going through the dreaded mid-life crisis, and the husband finds this dog,” said Producer and Director Keith Williams. “And it’s interesting because the dog kind of plays out as a person.”

But in this show, it’s a person playing the dog, dressed in a poodle skirt and yelling “Hey! Hey! Hey!” instead of barking, snarling insults at cats Photo By Andrea Shiell in the park, and loyally Thomas Esposito and Rebecca Dehorme star in the Newtowne Players’ presentation following Greg across of A.R. Gurney’s “Sylvia.”

ry’s a M

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Movie Review: Watchmen

By Andrea Shiell Staff Writer Imagine an alternate 1985 where Richard Nixon is in his fifth term, a superheroled U.S. victory in Vietnam sparked a huge buildup of Russian arms, and the world is teetering on the verge of nuclear disaster.

Superheroes once roamed the streets freely, but have since been outlawed by Congress after a public backlash against their increasingly nihilistic brand of vigilante justice, and the masked members of the group known as the Watchmen are now being murdered, starting with Eddie Blake, aka The Comedian, played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

This leads former crime-fighting colleague Rorschach, played by Jackie Earle Haley, to reestablish contact with Nite Owl (Patrick Wilson) and Silk Spectre (Malin Akerman), coaxing them out of retirement to find the murderer.

The film, like Alan Moore’s comic book, is a remarkable character study of superheroes who are anti-heroes, injected with Cold War doomsday paranoia, and with characters ranging from sympathetic to repulsive.

They are not the benevolent superheroes typical of comic book lore, but the result of a culture that continually blurs the line between the heroic superhero archetype and the egomaniacal masked vigilante.

The only character with super powers, even, is Silk Spectre’s boyfriend, Dr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup), who attained glowing blue skin and god-like powers after a laboratory mishap in the 1940s, and even he has lost his empathy for the human race (not to mention his pants, as he spends the majority of the film in his birthday suit).

Director Zack Snyder and screenwriters David Hayter and Alex Tse did a remarkable job of staying true to Moore’s story, but that may have been their undoing. Moore’s doomsday themes, though they offered some great political and social commentary when they were written, seem more quaint than relevant onscreen, and the stories of the Watchmen’s predecessors (including some of the back-story about Silk Spectre’s mother and father) are only established superficially, begging for explanations that could not (or would not) make their way into this 163-minute epic.

Though the film packs some heavy punches with brilliant special effects and good acting, and its loyalty to the source material is sure to please Moore’s fans, “Watchmen” is largely as Moore once described it; a book without a good movie in it, and it may just have audience members eyeing their watches.

Grade: C

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.

I Love You, Man R, 110 min Starts on Fri, Mar 20

Knowing PG-13, 122 min Starts on Fri, Mar 20

The Last House on the Left, R, 109 min

Race to Witch Mountain PG, 99 min

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Slumdog Millionaire R, 120 min

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

Watchmen R, 163 min

29

The County Times

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Thursday, March 19 Maryland, My Maryland Exhibit

North End Gallery (Leonardtown) – 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Wing Night

VFW 2632 (California) – 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Texas Hold’Em Tournament

Donovan’s Irish Pub (California) – 7:30 p.m.

Ladies Night

Country Store Bar (Leonardtown) – 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Friday, March 20 Fish & Steak Night

American Legion Post 221 (Avenue) – 5 p.m.

Legends & Lore Tour Sotterley Plantation – 5:30 p.m.

Newtowne Players – “Sylvia”

Three Notch Theater (Lexington Park) – 8 p.m.

Patuxent Playhouse – “The Nerd”

St. John Vianney Family Life Center Theater (Prince Frederick) – 8 p.m.

Young Life Christian Concert

Patuxent Presbyterian Church – 6:30 p.m.

Luck of the Irish Show and Dinner Rod N’ Reel Restaurant – 7:30 p.m.

Newtowne Players – “Sylvia”

Three Notch Theater (Lexington Park) – 8 p.m.

Patuxent Playhouse – “The Nerd”

St. John Vianney Family Life Center Theater (Prince Frederick) – 8 p.m.

Lost in Paris, DJ Rob & Car 54 Hotel Charles (Hughesville) – 9 p.m.

Dan Harbin

Toot’s Bar (Hollywood) – 9 p.m.

Swing and Ballroom Dance

Take a beginner-level lesson from 7-8 p.m. and then stay for dancing to music of all kinds from 8-11 p.m. $8/person, $15/couple, $5/seniors and students. Location: Little Flower School, Route 5, Great Mills.

Sunday, March 22

DJ Mango

Newtowne Players – “Sylvia”

The St. Mary’s Ryken Players Present Annie: The Musical

Annie: The Musical

DragN Inn (Charlotte Hall) – 9 p.m.

7 p.m. on Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 22. All performances will be held in the auditorium of Romauld Hall on the campus of St. Mary’s Ryken. Tickets are $10 at the door and $5 for students and seniors. Tickets can also be purchased online for a reduced price at www.rykenplayers.com.

Saturday, March 21 Steak Night

VFW 2632 (California) – 5 p.m.

Three Notch Theater (Lexington Park) – 3:30 p.m.

St. Mary’s Ryken (Leonardtown) – 7 p.m.

Tuesday, March 24 Republican Women Meeting The Republican Women of St. Mary’s County will meet at Petruzzi’s Bistro Restaurant in Wildewood Shopping center at 11 am on Tuesday March 24. Guest speaker will be Erik Anderson, candidate for delegate for district 29 B. For information call. Carol Ann 301-737-0731

n O g n i Go

What’s

Nature Time at Greenwell

Enjoy the wonders of nature at Greenwell State Park through games, crafts, stories, movement, and exploration. Nature Time is a program for young children and their families/caregivers.

The program runs from 10am-11:30am. This week’s theme is “Bird Lovers.” Participants are welcome to pack their own picnic lunch and explore the park on their own after the program.

Visit www.greenwellfoundation.org or call 301373-9775 for more information.

Wednesday, March 25 Maryland Day

St. Clements Island Museum, Colton’s Point, off Route 242. 11 AM. Celebrate Maryland’s 375th birthday at the site of the first colonial landing in 1634. Outdoor event, guest speakers, birthday cake! Free. HC. 301769-2222. www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/ museums Celebrate 375

10th Annual Women Studies Teen Movie Matinee Colloquium 2-4 PM, Lexington Park Library St. Mary’s College of Maryland (SMCM) will host the 10th Annual Women Studies Colloquium: “Caution: Women at Work,” Tuesday, March 24 through Thursday, March 26. This year, the colloquium will host four lectures that focus on the balancing act women often face while managing a career outside (and inside) the home. Stand-up comedian and social critic Marga Gomez will also perform Wednesday, March 25 at 8 p.m. in the Auerbach Auditorium of St. Mary’s Hall. Speakers include SMCM’s professor Jennifer Cognard-Black and professors from the University of Richmond and Occidental College, among others. For more information, contact Betul Basaran at 240-895-2026 or bbasaran@smcm.edu.

Teens, ages 13+, watch a movie with other teens. Snacks provided. Movie title TBD. No charge. www.stmalib.org or 301-863-8188

NAACP General Membership Meetings Change

As of March 25, 2009, the monthly NAACP General Membership meetings will meet from 6:30pm until 8:30pm. The meetings will continue at the SMECO Building , Hollywood, MD.

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 Readers can receive reading suggestions via email

Readers are reminded that they can receive reading lists with suggested titles for their next read by email by subscribing to NextReads. This free online service provides 22 fiction and nonfiction newsletters to select from and allows users to immediately check whether the items are available at the library.

To sign up, readers can click on COSMOS at www.stmalib.org and then NextReads.

Author Ginjer Clarke to present programs

Ginjer Clarke will be the featured author at this year’s BooksAlive! programs on April 6. Clarke specializes in writing nonfiction children’s books about extreme and unusual animals. She will read from her books and talk about her research involved in writing these books. The programs will be at 10 a.m. at Charlotte Hall, 2 p.m. at Lexington Park and 6:30 p.m. at Leonardtown. The programs which are being funded by The Boeing Company are free. Book signing follows each program with books available for purchase.

Teens plan book/media swap and free movie matinee

Leonardtown Library’s TAG (Teen Advisory Group) will sponsor a book and media swap on March 28 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for middle school students and older. Teens can trade books, CDs, DVDs and games with other teens and watch a PG-rated movie. Snacks will be provided.

Families invited to free movie matinee

Lexington Park’s TAG will sponsor a free family movie matinee on March 25 from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. A PG-rated movie will be shown. Snacks will be provided.

Libraries offer book discussions

Each library offers a monthly book discussion. The public is invited to drop in for any of the following book discussions: Ron Chernow’s book, Alexander Hamilton, on March 19 at 7 p.m. at Leonardtown, Nathanial Hawthorne’s book, The Scarlet Letter, on April 6 at 7 p.m. at Charlotte Hall, and Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s book, The Infidel, on April 13 at 6 p.m. at Lexington Park.

The County Times

Thursday, March 19, 2009

30

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Wish to thank their loyal customers for their continued support!

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The County Times

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Newsmakers

Question Interview Carrying on a Family Legacy Interviewing: Roland Decker

Roland, a retired Colonel, hung up his spurs as a member of the U.S. Air Force 30 years ago, but since then, this 91 year-old veteran has enjoyed living in Southern Maryland, where he also enjoys telling people about his airborne adventures as a fighter pilot during World War II.

Local Resident Publishes Father’s History of St. Mary’s

By Andrea Shiell Staff Writer Robert Steele Pogue eased into a chair in his living room with several folders

CT: Describe one of your most interesting flying experiences.

RD: (Talking about landing in a fenced field in England) Well this was a little tricky, but I did it, twice.

The first time I went in and I told them that everything was done right, and as I’m coming at 18 feet, I had to drop the plane over a fence, so I went in over the fence and dropped the plane, and turned around and came back, but one wheel was in the mud and the other was on the runway… it was two days before Hitler killed himself, I remember.

CT: What was your favorite plane to fly?

RD: I don’t remember which plane it was. It was a fast one though, a two-seater that would do 400 miles an hour. I flew it over my mother’s house once at about 50 feet… they said they couldn’t identify the plane because I was moving too darn fast.

CT: What was your favorite part of flying?

RD: Probably the girls in Paris. (Laughing) No, actually, I liked the girls from Germany. They were different. Paris girls were alright, but not for me, so I just left them alone.

Robert Steele Pogue

spread out before him; some containing historical writings. He might say he has history in his blood, as he turns and smiles at a copy of his father’s book, Yesterday In Old St. Mary’s County by Robert E.T. Pogue, first published in 1968, telling the story of the mother-county and its people.

“He was born in 1910, in Maddox Maryland… he died in 1988, and he wrote this book, Yesterday in Old St. Mary’s County in 1968,” Pogue said. “And he had printed five editions of it until he died, and we found it and decided last year to print a sixth edition.”

Pogue added that the book has been a staple of county booksellers for decades, but after his father’s death, he was inspired to reprint it.

The book is indeed ripe with local history, and Pogue said just assembling his father’s writings had given him some great insights not only into his hometown’s history, but his own lineage as well.

“We can trace our family history back to Leonard Calvert, who was the first governor of the state of Maryland; he was my father’s 13th great-grandfather, and [my father] took great pride in that,” Pogue said, adding that his father spent four years working on the book whilst recovering

from a heart attack.

For the next 20 years, this colorful local writer published three other books, including a book on Maryland landmarks, Beautiful Journeys, a book of photographs from the author’s travels, and a short book on how he met his wife of 60 years.

Pogue also wrote a great deal of short fiction that had gone undiscovered until recently.

“Over the years he was a member of the St. Mary’s County historical society… so he was pushed to write down things that he remembered,” his son said, adding that he may publish some of the short stories in the future.

As for Yesterday in Old St. Mary’s County, Pogue said the book itself opened his eyes to much of the local color he has come to appreciate today.

“The book was written right after he’d had a heart attack,” Pogue said, “and I think he really wanted to write down the history of his family and how they lived in the early part of the last century.

“And he wanted to let everyone in the state of Maryland know a bit more about the history of this county, and how it started, and how Maryland started…I think people can get a lot out of it.”

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The County Times

Thursday, March 19, 2009

32

A Journey Through Time The

Chronicle

Columnist Linda Reno is a historian and genealogist Ann. Key’s profession was law but specializing in Southern Maryland his passion was poetry and he history. Mrs. Reno is a member of wrote whenever possible. About the St. Mary’s County Historical Society, 1800, he and his best friend, St. Mary’s County Genealogical Society, Daniel Murray became rivals for the hand of Mary Tayloe Lloyd.

Charles County Genealogical Society, Key won out and it was said Maryland Historical Society, and the that “Miss Lloyd would make Maryland Genealogical Society. She curl papers of his love sonnets and took particular pains that he has authored many books and should learn of it.” Nevertheless, articles on local history. We hope the suitors remained friends and you will enjoy these articles and Key named one of his sons Daniel Murray Key. welcome your comments and Shortly after their marriage in suggestions for future 1802, the Keys moved to Georgetown subjects. where Francis joined and later inherited the

By Linda Reno Contributing Writer Francis Scott Key, author of the “Star Spangled Banner”, was born in Frederick County, Maryland August 1, 1779. He was the greatgrandson of Philip Key and Susanna Gardiner, of St. Mary’s County. Upon graduation from St. John’s College in Annapolis he studied law and in1801 he and fellow student, Roger Brooke Taney, opened practice in Frederick County.

Taney, who later became the first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, married Key’s sister,

practice of his uncle, Philip Barton Key. Along came the War of 1812. Maryland officials, afraid the British would burn Annapolis, had the State’s records moved to Upper Marlboro for safe keeping and while Annapolis was never invaded, Upper Marlboro was three times. On August 24, 1814 the British captured Washington, D. C. and burned many of the public buildings (including the White House).

That night they began the return march to their ships at Benedict. Along the way, some of them robbed and terrorized local citizens. At Upper Marlboro, a few of them, now drunk, entered the garden of Dr. William Beanes who ordered them to leave. When they refused and became

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more threatening, he had them arrested. One of the soldiers escaped, rejoined his company, and greatly exaggerated what had happened.

British soldiers arrived at Dr. Beanes’ home at 1:00 a.m., knocked down the door, dragged him out of bed, and then marched him, half dressed “on the back of a bare backed mule” to Benedict where he was placed in irons and confined in the hold of one of their ships.

Within a few days, Key was approached to seek his help in obtaining government permission to approach Admiral Cochrane under a flag of truce to secure the release of Dr. Beanes. On September 3, after obtaining the necessary approvals, Key went to Baltimore and met with Col. John Skinner, Baltimore’s agent of the U.S. for Parole of Prisoners who was to accompany him. They set sail aboard the U.S. cartel ship “Minden” in search of the British fleet.

The fleet was located and Key and Skinner boarded the British ship “Surprise” where they were received by Admiral Cochrane who refused their request saying that Dr. Beanes had “inflicted the most atrocious injuries and humiliations upon the British troops” and plans were underway to hang him to the yard arm of his ship.

Key persisted and Cochrane finally agreed to Beanes’ release; however the Americans would be kept aboard the “Surprise” until the British had completed what they called an impending operation.

The fleet arrived at the mouth of the Patapsco on the morning of September 10. Key, Skinner, and Beanes were transferred, under British guard, to the “Minden” anchored in

such a way as to ensure they could watch what the British was sure would be the capture of Baltimore. Finally, on the morning of September 13, nineteen British ships, keeping themselves beyond the range of the Ft. McHenry cannons, began the bombardment that would last for 25 hours.

Defying orders by Washington officials to surrender, the small group of volunteer militia at Ft. McHenry stood their ground firing their cannons occasionally so the British would know they had not surrendered.

That night 1,200 British soldiers attempted to slip up the river to attack from the rear.

They paid dearly for this folly as every gun in Baltimore harbor opened fired. In an effort to rescue them, some of the fleet came closer.

“A fierce battle ensued, Fort McHenry opened the full force of all her batteries upon them as they repassed, and the fleet responding with entire broadsides made an explosion so terrific that it seemed as though Mother Earth had opened and was vomiting shot and shell in a sheet of fire and brimstone. The heavens aglow were a seething sea of flame, and the waters of the harbor, lashed into an angry sea by the vibrations the ‘Minden’ rode and tossed as though in a tempest….the houses in Baltimore were shaken to their foundations.”

Shortly after sunrise, the “Minden” was freed. That same evening Key wrote the first draft of the song that would become our national anthem.

The flag that flew at Ft. McHenry was held privately until 1912 and ironically, during the Civil War it was sent to England for safe keeping.

33

Thursday, March 19, 2009

&

Recreation Parks The County Times

Patuxent River Rugby Starts 19th Season

By Sean Rice Staff Writer Team members of the Patuxent River Rugby Football Club got together March 7, donned in their “jumpers”, for the first “scrumdown” of the season.

Possibly the most recognizable formation during a rugby match is when players tightly lock arms in a mass of bodies that’s called a scrum.

The Pax River “Ruggers”, as they call themselves, started their 19th season with a home game against Frostburg University on their new home field near Clarks Landing Restaurant.

The owners of Clarks Landing Restaurant donated use of the field to the popular club.

“The guy is giving it to us for free and is just asking us to maintain it, so we’re going to do everything we can to make sure the field doesn’t get ruined,” said the club’s recruitment officer, David Beckman, adding that two main rules are there is no smoking or drinking at the field.

The team had been playing home games at Mill Creek Middle School in Lusby, on a field that has be described as less than desirable. The new field near Clarks Landing, a former softball field, needed a little work before the team could call it home.

“We as a team went and cleared out the mound, leveled off the field ourselves, laid down seed, aerated it,” Beckman said.

“We worked on it for probably a good two months or so before the season started. We are very thankful for this new field.”

Beckman is one of the youngest members on the team, and the youngest ever to hold an officer position with the club. A student at College of Southern Maryland, Beckman is starting his second season.

“I had two practices before my first game at the Celtic festival, and I just fell in love with the sport after my first game,” he said.

Many others are also falling in love with the game. The Pax River club saw its roster increase to near 40 this year, up from about 25 last year.

“Oh we shot up this season, we’re very happy with the numbers,” Beckman said.

Team members come from varying backgrounds, including Navy, Air Force, military police, college students, federal

Submitted Photos

employees and others. This season the club added a women’s league, and is hoping to add youth leagues as well.

Pax River Rugby has been strong supporters of charitable efforts in Southern Maryland, including adopting families in need during the Christmas holidays, and most recently fundraising for the Wounded Warriors project.

More information on the club, including schedules, can be found at www.paxrugby.com.

The County Times

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.

Pax River Silver Stars Looking For Players The Pax River Silver Stars AAU girls’ basketball team seeks players for the 14 and 15 years old and under and 16 years old and under teams. If interested, contact Savannah Webb at (home) 301-737-1792 or (cell) 301-247-3152, or via e-mail savweb@msn.com.

Great Mills Swimming Pool Announces Aqua Aerobics Classes The Great Mills Swimming Pool has added 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 the day, why not try this aqua aerobics program? The benefits are numerous, from cardiovascu-

lar benefits to meeting new friends, to even starting a new lifestyle. For information, call 301-866-6560 or drop by the pool, located right next to Great Mills High School on Great Mills road.

Learn more about all the programs at the Great Mills Pool at http://www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/facilities/swimmingpool.asp

Thursday, March 19, 2009

34

Registration Open for Adult Indoor Soccer

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

Ages: Registration Dates:

· Location:

· Time:

· Cost:

Game Dates:

· Time: · Location:

· Information:

18 and up Thursdays, March 5 and 12 Leonard Hall Recreation Center 7 – 9 p.m. $550 per team with shirts; $490 per team without shirts; $55 per individual

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.

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

35

The County Times

Thursday, March 19, 2009

High School Lacrosse

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Injuries Force Braves Lacrosse to Regroup

By Chris Stevens Staff Writer With 15 seniors on this year’s Chopticon boys’ lacrosse team, head coach Mike Boyle looked forward to another successful season that saw the Braves finish with the best record (9-7) in school history.

The Braves will rely on players such as Nick Long to lead the charge for a conference championship.

Photo By Chris Stevens

Jake Schmid is the leading returning scorer for the Chopticon boys’ lacrosse team this season.

Photo By Chris Stevens

While pre-season injuries have altered Boyle’s plans, he still holds out hope that Chopticon can compete for the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference title this season.

“Our strengths last year were the leadership positions at each of the key areas, but our weakness was the amount of unproven seniors (13 seniors last year), so we were veterans and rookies at the same time,” Boyle said of the ‘08 team that fell to SMAC champion Leonardtown in the 4A-3A semi-finals.

“Unfortunately, we are in the same boat again this year with 15 seniors, and we have three of those seniors hit with the injury bug.”

Face-off specialist Nick Long (broken leg), first line offensive middie Blake Burroughs (knee) and Tony Martin, a top five scorer from last year, are out of action for Chopticon, forcing Boyle to call on untested reinforcements.

“We are down to 23 total on the varsity and may have to look to the JV for a little back up,” he said. “But we are going to give it our best.”

Leading the pack of unin-

jured Braves are middie Sean Keating and Attackman Jake Schmid, the team’s third leading scorer from 2008.

“Sean has the capability to be one of the best in the conference, he just needs a break out year and be confident in his abilities,” Boyle said, “and Jake is one of the components to our success of last year. We will be looking to ride Jake’s shoulders this year.”

Along with Goalkeeper Zach Flowers (“He may be the most athletic goalie in the conference,” Boyle said), St. Mary’s Ryken transfer Adam Duffy and Defender Kyle Hudson, who Boyle expects to be an all-conference performer, Chopticon is still loaded with talent despite losing leading scorers Chas Guy and TJ Shomper, along with All-SMAC defender Lee Mora to graduation.

Boyle plans for his Braves to have the same mentality at the start of this season that he wanted in the previous years – winning the conference title.

“We start every season with one of the goals being to win the conference.

This year is no different,” Boyle said.

“We have been working hard to break into that top tier of lacrosse in this conference and it is going to happen.

“I coach it to happen and one day we will do it.”

Rodgers Takes Over For Chew, Hopes For Raider Success

By Chris Stevens Staff Writer The four-time defending SMAC boys lacrosse champions at Leonardtown High School

will have a decidedly different look when they take the field Saturday morning for their season opener against Huntingtown. Not just due to graduation and players moving up from JV to varsity, but they have a new head coach on

Photo By Chris Stevens

Igor Laray looks to lead the Leonardtown boys’ lacrosse team to their fifth straight SMAC title this season.

the sidelines. Bart Rodgers, who has been involved with the program from the start, will be in charge of the Raiders (15-2 overall, 10-0 in conference in 2008) this season, replacing Matt Chew, last season’s SMAC coach of the year who stepped aside recently to spend more time with his family.

“I’ve been here with the team for 10 years, and I’ve had to write a different Photo Courtesy of leonardtownlax.com playbook for each season,’ Rodgers says. Bart Rodgers “If you want to say we’re rebuilding, then be the ones we look to for leadership,” Rodgyeah, we are.” The Raiders, who lost a heartbreaker to Severna Park in the 4A/3A East ers says.

With a visit from Braddock Farms (Va.) finals last May, will be minus their four biggest offensive threats who graduated last season. high school on the schedule and SMAC conThe lightning quick tandem of Kenny Aicher tenders Huntingtown and Northern on the and Brian Dallaire along with faceoff special- schedule early, Rodgers feels the new-look ist Mike Hebb and attacker Stephen Norris ac- Raiders will benefit from having a challenging counted for 350 points last season, and Rodgers schedule coming out of the gates.

“The kids really don’t benefit from playing doesn’t expect any of the returning offensive teams that they’re going to beat 24-2,” he reaplayers to match that kind of production.

“You really can’t replace that kind of scor- sons. “It’s good for getting the kids exposure ing, but we have different strengths,” Rodgers and experience.”

With a history of conference championexplained. “We lost those four guys on offense, but we only lost one starter on defense, so that ships to live up to, Rodgers has no worries that should definitely be our strength.” Goalkeeper the younger players and the returning veterans Mitchell Kanowicz and defenders Zack Werrell are aware that the bull’s eye is still on their and Mike Copenhaver will lead the charge on back.

“I’ve told these kids a million times that that side of the field, while Manhattan Collegebound Igor Laray returns for his senior season ‘hey, you’re not the hunters, you are the hunted,’ and some of these kids don’t know what it’s to head up the offense.

“Those four are our captains and they’ll like to lose,” he said.

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The County Times

36

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Parker Brothers prints more money each year for its Monopoly games than the U.S. Government issues in real currency.

un Fact

Fro

he T m

SPORTS DESK

How to Survive March Madness in Your Office Pool

By Chris Stevens Staff Writer With hopefully the last snowstorm out of the way, Spring officially, well, springs this coming Saturday, and weather permitting, tomorrow will be the first day that your favorite high school athletes will take to the baseball and softball diamond, the tennis courts, the track surrounding the football field and the football field itself, which doubles as the lacrosse field for game competition.

What I’m trying to say is spring sports are fun, as is another rite of passage in March – the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournament.

Over the course of three weeks, the 65 best Division I teams on each side battle it out until one men’s team and one women’s team is left standing as the national champion.

While the games themselves certainly are entertaining and thrilling to watch, the real fun for the common fan comes in the form of office pools based on printable brackets of the tourney games. It’s always interesting to see the office know-it-all bomb in the first round of tourney play while the quiet bracketeers (ranging from the folks who fill them out blindly or pick schools to win based on mascots) are the ones reigning victorious in early April.

For those of you who seem to

have trouble getting out of the first round (i.e. Gary Williams and the Maryland Terps), fear not, for help is on the way. As a veteran of 11 NCAA bracket tournaments, going back to my high school days, I will gladly share with you guys my secrets to office pool success.

Since this column and the advice therein is free of charge, no one can ask for their money back if things don’t work out right. However, I’m rarely wrong, so sit back and take notes: Tip 1: Counsel your competition. Always chat up your office mates to find out what line of thinking you are up against before the brackets become official. If you find out that you’re matched up against someone who thinks the Duke Blue Devils has something to do with Star Wars, then you can breathe easy. If there are any former college basketball players and/or devoted alumni of tourney teams in your pool, you definitely want to sit on your bracket until the last possible second.

Tip 2: The Poker Face is overrated. Sure it works for Phil Ivey and those guys on ESPN, but here, there’s no need to frown, furrow your eyebrows and give short answers when it comes to the office pool. When someone asks you about your bracket (remember, counsel your competition), give them honest answers. If you’re confident in your choices, say so. If not, be hon-

est about that as well. That way, no one can be surprised when you pull off the upset.

Tip 3: Bank on at least ONE upset. It happens every year. Cleveland State over Indiana in 1986, Coppin State over South Carolina in 1997, Valparaiso over Ole Miss the next year. The upsets are what make the tournament so special, and because of NCAA rules favoring parity, the lower-seeded teams have more of a chance now. What that means for your bracket is that one of your favorites WILL get knocked off. As long as it’s not more than two teams in your Final Four, you will be fine. That does NOT mean go upset happy. No way will Morgan State advance to the Final Four (although beating Oklahoma would be major), so stick to the script and bank on the bigger schools going far.

Tip 4: Have fun. Yes, there may be money, bragging rights or the responsibility of taking out the trash on the line, but office pools are strictly for fun and a neat way to build office camaraderie, so knock yourself out and enjoy the Big Dance. And don’t gloat too much if you win.

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 01/29/09-02/04/09 Friday March 20 Baseball Great Mills at Leonardtown, 4 p.m.

Boys’ Lacrosse Chopticon at Patuxent, 6:30 p.m.

Great Mills at Northern, 6:30 p.m.

Girls’ Lacrosse Calvert at St. Mary’s Ryken, 4 p.m.

Northern at Great Mills, 5 p.m.

Huntingtown at Leonardtown, 6:30 p.m.

Patuxent at Chopticon, 6:30 p.m.

Softball St. Mary’s Ryken at Elizabeth Seton, 3:30 p.m.

Great Mills at Leonardtown, 4 p.m.

Tennis Chopticon at Calvert, 4:30 p.m.

Lackey at Great Mills, 4:30 p.m.

Saturday March 21 Baseball St. John’s at St. Mary’s Ryken, 1 p.m.

Boys’ Lacrosse Huntingtown at Leonardtown, 11 a.m.

St. Mary’s Ryken vs. South Lakes at Catholic University, 11 a.m.

Softball Leonardtown at Howard High School, 12 noon St. Vincent Pallotti at St. Mary’s Ryken, 1 p.m.

Monday March 23

Paul VI at St. Mary’s Ryken, 4 p.m.

Huntingtown at Leonardtown, 4 p.m.

Great Mills at Chopticon, 4:30 p.m.

Softball Paul VI at St. Mary’s Ryken, 3:30 p.m.

Great Mills at Chopticon, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday March 24 Baseball Gonzaga at St. Mary’s Ryken, 4 p.m.

Boys’ Lacrosse Great Mills at Calvert, 4 p.m.

St. Mary’s Ryken at Bishop O’Connell, 4 p.m.

Leonardtown at Northern, 6:30 p.m.

Girls’ Lacrosse Calvert at Great Mills, 6:30 p.m.

Tennis Chopticon at La Plata, 4 p.m.

Track and Field Leonardtown/La Plata/Huntingtown at Patuxent, 4 p.m.

Great Mills/Chopticon/Lackey at McDonough, 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday March 25 Girls’ Lacrosse Bishop O’Connell at St. Mary’s Ryken, 4 p.m.

Tennis Northern at Chopticon, 4 p.m.

Leonardtown at Westlake, 4 p.m.

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Allen Looks Forward To Blue Crabs’ Continued Success

By Chris Stevens Staff Writer With the United States’ economic present and future looking perilous at best, no one would be surprised if professional sports suffered because no one can afford to attend the games.

Surprisingly to some, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the independent Atlantic League have had no such problems, and if new General Manager Chris Allen has his way, the Blue Crabs will continue to succeed on the baseball diamond and at the box office.

“We have a strong foundation in place on the baseball side of things, and we look forward to bringing a title to Southern Maryland,” Allen said.

Allen, a veteran baseball man, steps in as the new GM this season, replacing Mark Viniard, who resigned his duties to spend more time with his family. Allen inherits a team that in its first year of competition had the league’s best record at 74-66, but finished second in both halves of the Liberty Division season, missing the playoffs.

“We’re just as poised as any other team in this league to win a championship,” Allen responded when asked how he gauged the chances of the 2009 Blue Crabs. “We have the great opportunity to have success on the field this

SOMD Blue Crabs

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Thursday, March 19, 2009

season.”

Allen, a former baseball player at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., played briefly in another independent baseball league (the Frontier League), which cemented his love for the game and business of minor league baseball. He went back to Liberty to finish his degree and has served as GM in various leagues in North Carolina before being named assistant GM prior the start of last season. When Viniard chose to step aside, Allen was ready for the challenge.

“Mark is missed, he did a great job, but all in all, it’s been a smooth transition,” Allen said; as he’s made few changes to the staff, save for hiring a replacement for himself as assistant GM in Omar Roque. He is confident that the administrators in place help to make the Blue Crabs’ front office a top notch unit.

“I would put our staff up against anybody’s in minor league baseball,” Allen said.

“We have people that are out there just flying our colors; wherever we’re invited, we’re there and the hard work will pay off at the end of the day.”

It has paid off so far, as the Blue Crabs marketing department, who have taken a “grassroots approach” according to Allen, has used creativity and reasonable ticket prices to attract Southern Maryland residents. So far, the strategy has worked.

“Our company has done its due diligence, studied the market hard and worked hard to get the community in general to come out,” Allen said. “We’re very grateful for the support.”

Photo By Frank Marquart

Chris Allen takes over as General Manager of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs this season.

39

The County Times

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Tennis

Sp rts

St. Mary’s College

No. 16 Seahawks Top Virginia Wesleyan, 13-7

Virginia Beach, Va. – Four goals by senior midfielder Allie Zerhusen (Cockeysville, Md./Park) lifted the No. 16 St. Mary’s College of Maryland women’s lacrosse team to a 13-7 victory over Virginia Wesleyan College in non-conference action March 14.

Seniors Lauren Carrier (Crownsville, Md./Old Mill) and Emily Norris (Timonium, Md./Dulaney) each notched two goals and an assist in helping the Seahawks to their sixth consecutive win.

Carrier also extended her NCAA Division III record for consecutive games with at least one goal to 49 straight. She started the streak as a freshman April 15, 2006 with one goal in a loss to the University of Mary Washington.

Virginia Wesleyan (3-3) opened up with a 3-0 run before St. Mary’s responded with three of their own, including a pair from Zerhusen, to knot the game at 3 – all at 15:54. Senior defender Cara Tinelli (Baltimore, Md./Institute of Notre Dame) converted on a free position shot to give the Marlins the lead again just 31 seconds later.

However, the Seahawks (6-1) went on to close the first half on a 6-0 run as Norris, Zerhusen, and Mirkin each tallied two goals to put the visitors ahead 9-4 at halftime, while junior attacker Kelsey Branch (Jarrettsville, Md./North Harford) assisted on three of the goals.

St. Mary’s increased their lead to 11-4 with back-to-back goals from junior attacker Nora Fallon-Oben (Silver Spring, Md./St. John’s College [D.C.]) and Carrier to start the second half.

Marlin attackers Jordan Venetis (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Thousand Oaks), Laura Norris (Hollywood, Md./Leonardtown) and Courtney Williams (Leonardtown, Md./Leonardtown) netted three of the game’s final five goals for the 13-7 final.

Midfielders Aubrey Mirkin (Ashton, Md./Sherwood) and Caitlin Nichols (Baltimore, Md./McDonogh) contributed five groundballs each as the Seahawks posted a 33-32 edge in groundballs. St. Mary’s also owned a 13-9 advantage in draw controls, as Carrier, Mirkin, and Zerhusen each grabbed three.

Six different players scored for the Marlins as VWC out-shot the Seahawks, 23-19.

Freshman goalie Colleen Simpson (Arnold, Md./Broadneck) turned away six shots and had one groundball for the Seahawks, while senior Ashley Sippel (Leesburg, Va./Ashburn Stone Bridge) had four saves and three groundballs in the loss.

Seahawks Sweep Three Pennsylvania Squads Pennsylvania – The St. Mary’s College of Maryland men’s tennis team played the role of spoiler this weekend in the Keystone State as the Seahawks (9-3) won the home and season-opening matches for three Pennsylvania schools.

St. Mary’s first victory of the weekend came at the expense of Lincoln (Pa.) University (0-1) on the morning of March 14 as the Seahawks posted a 7-2 win. Juniors Kenny Nugent (Pocomoke, Md./Pocomoke) and Drew Barnes (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) and freshman Thomas Hoesman (Ellicott City, Md./Howard) all notched 8-0 victories in singles action, while Hoesman teamed up with freshman Robbie Bourdon (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown) for an 8-0 shutout at No. 3 doubles.

The Seahawks then picked up a 6-3 victory over Gwynedd-Mercy College (0-1) later that same day as Sam Barton (Edgewater, Md./Key) tallied a thrilling three-set 7-6, 4-6, 10-8 triumph over junior Eric Trinkle (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) at No. 3

singles.

The final triumph for St. Mary’s came the following day as the visitors handed Misericordia University a 6-3 setback. The Cougars (0-1) claimed wins at No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 singles before the Seahawks captured the remaining singles matches and all three doubles.

Barnes remains undefeated with a 4-0 mark at No. 6 singles, while Hoesman improved to 8-2, including 4-0 at No. 4 singles, having won three straight. Nugent has also won three in a row for a 9-3 record, including a 5-0 mark at No. 5 singles.

Bourdon and Hoesman own a team-best eight wins with an unblemished record of 8-0 in doubles action. The duo is 7-0 at No. 3 doubles while posting a win at No. 2 doubles as well. Barton and Nugent have won six straight for an 8-3 log, mainly at No. 2 doubles (7-3).

St. Mary’s will return to action when the Seahawks open up conference play in Frederick against Hood College March 26 at 3:30 p.m.

THURSDAY MARCH 19, 2009

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