See Page 16, and 17 for Coupon Specials!
WWW.somd.com
Wednesday, december 23, 2009
A New Home For THe HolidAys Page 16
County Considering Budget Cuts Story Page 5
Sheriff Promoting New iPhone App Story Page 12
Leonardtown Skates By Thomas Stone Story Page 31
Photo by Frank Marquart
The County Times
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
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Your Paper... Your Thoughts
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Where have you done most of your holiday shopping this year?
$49.95 $39.95 $29.95
Tiffany McElravy, 20, from Mechanicsville, said, “I haven’t done any holiday shopping at all. I don’t have a job.” 135
$39.95 $29.95
45
$19.95
Chicken Wings 30-40
$54.95
15-30
$39.95
10-15
Chicken Tender An appetizing tray of chicken tenders, served with dip. 25-30 60 $69.95 $49.95 8-12 25 $34.95
“I’d say at K-Mart,” Samantha Pardo, 26, a veterinary technician from Lexington Park. “Layaway has been my best friend.” Serves 15-20..........40ct................................$39.95 Serves 12-15..........30ct................................$32.95
“Really, because of the times – the recession that we have that the government says that we don’t have – I don’t have money to go shopping,” said Gene Ballinger, 38, a drywall technician from Lexington Park.
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Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Jesse Arnold of Bushwood, left, Jon Milan of California and Gabrielle Menard of Hollywood, compete in the robotics competition at the Dr. James Forrest Career and Technology Center in Leonardtown. SEE PAGE 14
Weather
Watch
The County Times
“But we feel it’s probably a lost cause … It’s been announced by the governor, and what the community governor Dr. Michael P. Somers gives Sheriff Timothy Cameron his seasonal flu shot during an immunization wants the clinic for correctional officers, civilian staff and at the Detention Center in early December. governor gets.” inmates SEE PAGE 20 Tommy Zinn, speaking about new oyster regulations. SEE PAGE 6 community stock market
For Weekly Stock Market cloSing reSultS, check Page 8 in Money
P.O. Box 250 • Hollywood, Maryland 20636 News, Advertising, Circulation, Classifieds: 301-373-4125
Master Sgt. Steven Caldwell helps at Tuesday’s Toys for Tots drive at the St. Mary’s Teen Center at Chancellor’s Run Regional Park. SEE PAGE 21
On T he Covers
ON THE FRONT
The Shreve family; Tiffany, Bill, Autumn and Lacey, are thankful for their new house, built by the Patuxent Habitat for Humanity with the help of numerous volunteers.
ON THE BACK Great Mills’ Josh Williams shoots over Tyler Hayden of Leonardtown during Friday’s boys’ basketball game.
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Also Inside
County News Editorial/Opinion Money Defense and Military Obituaries Crime and Punishment Education Cover Newsmakers Community Community Calendar Columns Entertainment Games Sports Desk Football Basketball Sports News
James Manning McKay - Founder Eric McKay -Associate Publisher..................................ericmckay@countytimes.net Tobie Pulliam - Office Manager..............................tobiepulliam@countytimes.net Sean Rice - Associate Editor.....................................................seanrice@countytimes.net Angie Stalcup - Graphic Artist.......................................angiestalcup@countytimes.net Andrea Shiell - Reporter - Education, Entertainment...andreashiell@countytimes.net Chris Stevens - Reporter - Sports......................................chrisstevens@countytimes.net Guy Leonard - Reporter - Government, Crime...............guyleonard@countytimes.net Sales Representatives......................................................................sales@countytimes.net
The County Times
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Wednesday, December 23, 2009 The first product to ever be scanned with a bar code was Wrigley's gum on June 26, 1974
un Fact
SMECO Seeks to Reduce Energy Charges
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative is filing an application with the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) to reduce its energy charges. SMECO’s Standard Offer Service rate is made up of the energy charge and the Power Cost Adjustment (PCA). SMECO is filing to reduce the residential winter energy charge from 11.24 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 9.11 cents per kWh, a reduction of almost 19 percent. Winter energy charges appear on bills rendered November through May. Residential energy charges for summer will decrease from 12.59 cents per kWh to 9.75 cents per kWh, a reduction of 22 percent. The filing will be submitted in late December, and, if approved by the PSC, the reduced charge will appear on customer-members’ March 2010 bills. Lower power supply costs have been reflected in the PCA on SMECO’s monthly electric bills, the company said in a press release/ Customers have received a credit every month since February. The credit reduces the overall SOS rate, which is made up of the PCA and the energy charge. With the PCA credit, the SOS rate for December has, in effect, been
reduced from 11.24 cents per kWh to 10.41 cents per kWh. The total SOS rate in March will be the combination of the new reduced energy charge and the PCA, which changes monthly. “Electricity prices decreased this year because of the mild weather. The weather affects demand for energy, and lower demand results in reduced prices,” said Sonja Cox, SMECO’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. SMECO’s new rates are based on forecasted power costs for March 2010 to February 2011, which are estimated to be $87.93 per megawatthour (MWh) for wholesale power supply. This cost is 16 percent less than the estimated costs the co-op submitted in its last filing in August 2008. According to Cox, SMECO does not mark up or make a profit on energy charges. The co-op also uses a portfolio approach to purchasing power, using long-term and shortterm contracts and contracts for base load and peak load. “Our portfolio of power supply agreements reduces the swings in energy prices and helps to save money for our customer-members overall,’ she said.
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Colleen Bowman shows off her 14-foot snow tiger she built outside her home on Nats Creek Road, Hollywood. Bowman said it took her five hours to make the 14-foot long, 5-foot tall tiger this weekend.
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The County Times
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Today’s Newsmakers In Brief On the possibility of furloughs for county employees.
On the affects of state highway user fee cuts for Leonardtown
“That’s not on the table at this time.”
“We’re struggling with snow removal.”
Commissioner Lawrence D. Jarboe (R-Golden Beach)
Leonardtown Mayor J. Harry Norris
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County Considering Budget Cuts Perc Tests Renewed
By Guy Leonard Staff Writer
With revenues from the state continuing to dwindle the county is faced with cutting even more into the operating budget and holding the line on expenditures within departments during the latest budget cycle. Commissioners discussed cutting back on allocations to county departments, excluding the county Board of Education, by five percent which could garner a savings of $2.5 million, according to Commissioner Lawrence D. Jarboe (R-Golden Beach). “To take that will not be easy but it’s a savings,” Jarboe told The County Times Tuesday. The commissioners also considered cutting back on the county’s ve-
hicle replacement fund to the tune of a $450,000 savings; the commissioners also weighed removing any increases for county merit-based employees. Jarboe said the savings there could mount up to $500,000. The county commissioners may also cut back on the medical care copays for employees by five dollars, Jarboe said, to save about $333,000. County Administrator John Savich also said that since the state delegation would likely not approve an extra $25 million in bonding authority for the county to finish out several important public construction projects that it would have to live with the current bonding authority allowed it, about $40 million. Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly said that the planned new library
for Leonardtown as well as several other projects would have to wait but the county would still likely move ahead with funding the expansion of the county detention center. The detention center is currently overcrowded and many security systems are aging and in need of repair. Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron said that while some have said that the number of inmates at the prison has dropped, it has only been from 300 prisoners a day to 290. And that number would likely go back up soon, Cameron said. Tax hikes to shore up the budget were also not under consideration. “I don’t think there’s any sentiment for that,” Mattingly said. guyleonard@countytimes.net
Citizens Can Get Tips On Preserving Shoreline
Department of Natural Resources officials and others will hold an informational meeting January 16, 2010 at St. Mary’s College to advise homeowners, business and other property owners on what they can do to preserve and sustain the county’s shoreline. At the seminar property owners can get information on the types of permits needed for projects along the shoreline,
how shorelines can be bolstered, acceptable site designs and all of the local and state regulations regarding shoreline in the critical area. Specifically the seminar will focus on recognizing problems with shoreline like erosion, permitting, construction and maintenance. The August 2009 seminar was popular enough to justify a winter class.
Man Indicted For Vehicular Homicide By Guy Leonard Staff Writer A Hollywood man recently indicted for the negligent homicide of Russell Edward Wenzel last summer has made bond and is out of the county detention center. George Michael Bowles, 31, was able to post a $100,000 property bond to guarantee his release, according to court documents. Bowes has been charged with negligent manslaughter, three counts of negligent homicide using a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, three counts of attempting to drive while impaired by alcohol, reckless driving and negligent driving. According to police reports on July 25 at just after midnight Bowes was operating his 2008 Ford F-450 on northbound Piney Point Road near Happyland Road in Valley Lee when his truck crossed the centerline into the southbound lane and collided head on with a 2009 Audi A4 sedan driven by Wenzel, 58, with his wife Melissa Anne Wenzel, 58, in the passenger seat. Both Bowes and Wenzel were transported to St. Mary’s Hospital where the victim died of his injuries. Melissa Wenzel was transported to Prince George’s Hospital Center’s shock trauma unit by state police helicopter with critical injuries. Investigation at the scene of the wreck revealed that Bowes might have been drinking while operating his vehicle. “There was certainly probable cause to believe he had been drinking and operating a vehicle under the influence,” said Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron. “That’s why he was given a blood test.” guyleonard@countytimes.net
Registration is free and coffee and lunch will be provided; those who want to register can contact Dionne Bell at the Department of Natural Resources at 410260-8732 or via E-mail at dbell@dnr. state.md.us.
By Guy Leonard Staff Writer
After putting a stop to perc tests for construction over the spring, the county health department has announced they can start up again now that the county’s ground water levels have reached acceptable levels. This means that building projects halted by the April stoppage on perc tests can now proceed. The tests that were first put on hold will be the first ones to go on the list, according to a county health department press release. Perc tests are required for any construction project, be it commercial or residential, to be built where there is no public water or sewer. The tests are also used to gauge whether a septic system can be replaced once it has failed. “People who had their applications on hold, they’ll now be able to proceed,” said Phil Shire, deputy director of the Department of Land Use and Growth Management (LUGM). However, Shire said, since the bad weather and worse economy continue to hit the county, there has been no run on the counter at LUGM to get new perc test applications. However, he said, the beneficiaries of the opening up of the testing process will be homeowners and residential developers building where there are no public water and sewer hookups. Anyone wishing to get a perc test permit can do so on-line at the county’s government Web site at stmarysmaryland.com or by going to the LUGM office in Leonardtown. A fee for the application is required. guyleonard@countytimes.net
2010 Could Be an Anti-Incumbent Year By Karen Anderson Capital News Service
Ranked by Gallup as the country’s third most Democratic state, Maryland has been a steep climb for any Republican candidate vying to win statewide office. Still, political experts and party leaders across the state think a Republican gubernatorial victory is possible in 2010. “I think Republicans can win in Maryland,” said Todd Eberly, an assistant professor of political science at St. Mary’s College. “But they’ve got to capitalize on current levels of voter discontent with the state of the economy in Maryland and nationally, and the budget deficit in the state.” To win the governor’s race Republicans must recruit a candidate capable of raising money, develop an organization to turn out the vote and stick to a strong message, according to analysts. “If they’re going to knock off any incumbents, 2010 seems like it will be the year to try,” said James Gimpel, a government professor at the University of Maryland, College Park. “It seems like a shame for Republicans to pass up the opportunity to run a competitive race, but they might, because this is Maryland.” As of November, Democrats made up nearly 57 percent of Maryland’s registered voters while Republicans were less than 27 percent. Former Maryland Gov. Bob Ehrlich, who lost to current Gov. Martin O’Malley in 2006, is the strongest potential candidate, according to a September poll by Gonzales Research and Marketing Strategies.
“At the moment Bob Ehrlich really is the Republican Party in Maryland,” said Eberly, who added that “an Ehrlich run would excite Republicans” at a time when they need to be excited. “This could be the thing to help them (Republicans) psychologically move into that national movement,” he said, regarding Ehrlich’s candidacy. In recent years, national politics appear to have influenced the outcome of state elections in Maryland and, Eberly said, 2010 is shaping up to be an “anti-incumbent year.” “In ‘94 and in 2002, the two years that Republicans did best, were incredibly strong years for Republicans nationally,” Eberly said. “In 1998 and in 2006 when Democrats did well in Maryland, those were incredibly strong years for Democrats nationally. So I don’t think that was just a coincidence.” As the incumbent party, Maryland Democrats are attached to the state’s $1.1 billion in general fund spending reductions this year and the further budget shortfall predicted for fiscal 2011. “In Maryland, it’s nearly 3-to-1 Democrats in the House and 2-to-1 Democrats in the Senate, and you’ve got a Democrat submitting the budget. There’s no other party that’s going to absorb any of the blame,” Eberly said. O’Malley’s approval rating is currently at 48 percent, 6 percentage points below Ehrlich’s in the months preceding his 2006 electoral loss, according to polling by Gonzales Research and Marketing Strategies. “That’s a danger ground for any incumbent,” said Eberly.
The County Times
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
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2009 Quality Health Care All Year As you spend time with family this holiday season, take comfort in knowing our St. Mary’s Hospital family is here to care for you and yours. Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season! Check out these 2009 highlights and look for more great things to come in 2010. The St. Mary’s Hospital Board of Directors also sends congratulations and thanks to you, our dedicated associates, physicians and volunteers for an incredibly successful year!
JANUARY • MRI accreditation awarded from the American College of Radiology.
FEBRUARY • Implemented CareMobile, a barcode medication-administration device designed to prevent or reduce medication errors. • Introduced home sleep studies to monitor and detect potential sleeping disorders. • Three-year approval awarded with five commendations for the Cancer Program from the American College of Surgeons.
MARCH • Celebrated grand opening of 3 Central, a 15-bed telemetry unit. • Quality Respiratory Care Recognition received from the American Association for Respiratory Care.
APRIL • Implemented of a major single-stream recycling program — another effort to “go green.”
MAY • Ranked No. 1 in Maryland by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices survey. • Introduced pediatric sleep studies.
JUNE • Hospital President Christine Wray received the 2009 CEO of the Year award through the Leading Edge Awards at the College of Southern Maryland. • Recipient of the 2009 Workplace Excellence Award, the Health and Wellness Trailblazer Award and the EcoLeadership Award through the Alliance for Workplace Excellence. • MaryLou Watson, vice president, nursing, received a Nursing Spectrum Excellence Award.
JULY • Recipient of the prestigious 2009 Delmarva Foundation Excellence Award for Quality Improvement from the Delmarva Foundation for Medical Care for the second consecutive year and third time. • In fiscal year 2009, St. Mary’s Hospital provided more than $6.9 million in community benefits.
AUGUST • Welcomed Dr. Amir Mohammad Khan, medical director for the Cancer Care and Infusion Services center. • Partnered with Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., to offer pediatric EEGs, ECHOS and sleep studies. Pediatric pulmonary function testing will begin in 2010. • Laboratory received certification from the College of American Pathologists. • Imaging Department received accreditation from the American College of Radiology for the 64-slice CT scanner. We were previously accredited for all ultrasound, mammography and MRI services.
SEPTEMBER • The 5th Annual St. Mary’s Hospital Auxiliary Golf Tournament raised about $15,000 for equipment in the Emergency Department. • Six-bedroom Hospice House of St. Mary’s was dedicated. • Joined forces in a mutually beneficial partnership with MedStar Health, the mid-Atlantic region’s largest healthcare system. • Health Connections’ Get Connected to Health program saw about 84 percent more patients during the first quarter of the fiscal year compared to last year.
OCTOBER • Recipient of the American Heart Association’s “Silver Performance Achievement Award” for excellent stroke care. This award reflects an 85 percent or higher compliance rate for care measures over 12 months.
NOVEMBER • The 22nd Annual St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation Gala raised more than $180,000 to go toward the Foundation’s scholarship program.
301- 475-8981
w
www.smhwecare.com
Auditors: Town Could Do More To Avoid Risk
By Guy Leonard Staff Writer
The certified public accounting firm that audits Leonardtown’s finances has stated in a letter to the town’s senior staff that they could do more to ensure that there are internal controls over property and guard against fraud. The letter from Murray, Wamsley and Schrader, LLC comes as part of the town’s fiscal audit dated November 23, which stated that the town’s finances were in good order. The management letter states that while the town has a set number of pieces of equipment that agrees with its records, it has not actually taken inventory of those items to ensure that they are being used properly. Taking an inventory of the equipment list would make certain that the town could accurately calculate the value of those assets. The letter also states that the town should have a formalized fraud risk management program, which currently does not exist. “The management of the town and the mayor informally look at processes and pro-
cedures as deemed appropriate in certain circumstances,” the letter reads. “It is our understanding that the treasurer has begun drafting fraud risk policies. We recommend that this project continue until a formalized program is adopted.” Mayor J. Harry Norris said that while the town should be mindful of the warnings from the accountants, the small size of the town’s operations made following the recommendations difficult. “Everything they’ve mentioned, they’ve mentioned before,” Norris told The County Times. “In truth, in cost there’s just some of that we can’t do.” On the concerns over fraud Norris said that he did not believe there was much concern even though town employees had overlapping duties. “With a larger staff you’d have more separation,” Norris said. “We really don’t have enough staff for that.” Norris said the audit showed the town was still strong financially but it would have to tighten its belt like the county and the rest of the state. guyleonard@countytimes.net.
Oyster Plan Spells Doom For Local Watermen By Sean Rice Staff Writer
Gov. Martin O’Malley announced plans to make sweeping changes to the state’s oyster industry, aimed at protecting existing oysters and promoting alternative oyster growing techniques. The plan calls for increasing the areas protected from oyster harvesting in the tributaries of the Chesapeake By from 9 to 24 percent of the remaining quality habitat, including a large segment of the Patuxent River. “Protecting the population not only matters for the bay, it matters for the economy,” the governor said. “Our economy needs this shot in the arm. Our watermen need this shot in the arm.” Watermen who strive to harvest oysters from the bay say that “shot in the arm” is going to be a lethal injection. Tommy Zinn, head of the Calvert County’s Waterman’s Association, said the plan to nearly triple the area that is off limits from conventional oyster harvesting, and the push for alternative oystergrowing practices, will certainly mean the death of the watermen lifestyle in the next few years. “Our feelings are that with sanctuaries, it sounds good and makes them feel warm and fuzzy and all, but a sanctuary not worked is like you planting your garden in the back yard and then going back in the fall and seeing what grew,” Zinn said. “Nothing’s going to grow if you don’t go out there and hoe it, and fertilize it and turn it over. And oysters are pretty much the same way.” A main part of the plan is the state’s decision to harvest with aquaculture, which uses cages or f loats suspended in the water to grow oysters from larvae to
adulthood. O’Malley said that aquaculture already is producing tens of millions of dollars in dockside value in Virginia. “That potential exists in Maryland as well,” O’Malley said. “We just have to harness it. We have to do the things that we need to do so that we can not only catch up with where Virginia is with aquaculture but hopefully move past them.” Zinn said he doesn’t see existing watermen having the money or ability to switch to aquaculture, and the plan will probably result in new people populating the aquaculture industry. “This is almost a new business venture. The individual watermen are probably struggling now more than they every have, and unless there’s a lot of grants or some kind of funding out there to help them … I don’t see the waterman having the capital to invest.” “These do-good groups like the CCA [Coastal Conservation Association]… they’re more concerned with shutting the commercial industry down than they are as far as really doing something good,” Zinn said. “The only place we’re seeing natural reproduction of oysters is where the boats work at continuously every year and clean the bottom,” Zinn said, adding that with the high amount of silt in the river, oysters just left to themselves will simply silt over and die without watermen stirring up the bottom with dredging. Regional hearings on the issue are planned to begin next month. “But we feel it’s probably a lost cause,’ Zinn said. “It’s been announced by the governor and what the governor wants the governor gets,” he said. seanrice@countytimes.net
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Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Jesus is The Reason For The Season I was intrigued with the question in the Dec 17 edition in the “Your Paper.,Your Thoughts” column. The question asked, what one thought of the fact that teachers in some school districts are being told to say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas to students? I am concerned about this current trend in our country to take Christ out of Christmas. Even the Barack Obama family, spending its first Christmas at the White House, excluded Christmas from a white house card sent to thousands with the words “Seasons Greetings” on it. It is time for us to change this trend of taking Christ out of Christmas. If you are not a Christian and the word Jesus or Christian offends you, why are you celebrating Christmas at all? If you do not believe in Christ or you have a different religion, than feel free to celebrate your holiday, but do not denigrate mine by calling it something other than Christmas. A survey by Rasmussen Reports finds that adult Americans overwhelmingly prefer the seasonal expression “Merry Christmas” rather than “Happy Holidays” by a majority of almost 80 per cent. Yet many retailers just
do not get it. They elect not to display Merry Christmas ads and instruct employees to wish all a Happy Holidays. But, they do not mind in the least cashing in on selling Christmas cards, nativity scenes, and anything else associated with Christmas. And what gives with our schools instructing teachers to use the words happy holidays and changing Christmas vacation to a winter holiday? When I was in school, eveyone called it a Christmas vacation. If there was no Christmas, would there really be any reason for a holiday? In their efforts to be all inclusive, they are being exclusive of Christians. Seems as if a lot of care is taken to insure that people are not offended over “Christianity”. In fact, the only people that the secular belief system does not worry about offending are Christians. I am a Christian and am rather tired of this offensive treatment of my belief system. Jesus is the “reason for the season” and that is all there is to it. Dick Nevala Hollywood, Md. 20636
A War of Northern Aggression? As an addition to the recent dialogue re- was “the immediate cause of the late rupgarding the Civil War, or as it was known in St. Mary’s county, “The War of Northern Aggression,” I would like to present some facts and opinions. During Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address he gave his interpretation of the cause of secession and civil war. He said that the institution of slavery created a powerful interest in the states where it existed; “To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union, even by war… Both parties’ deprecated war; but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive; and the other would accept war rather than let it perish. And the war came.” Jefferson Davis justified secession in 1861 as an act of self defense against the incoming Lincoln administration and their policy of excluding slavery from the new western territories. He stated that this policy would make “property in slaves so insecure as to be comparatively worthless… thereby annihilating in effect property worth thousands of millions of dollars”. Another supporter of secession and civil war was Alexander Stephens, the new vice president of the Confederate States of America. He said in a speech in 1861 that slavery
What Is a Library?
I am responding to the letter to the editor in the December 17th County Times “If Library is Full, Remove Material” by Glenn Weder. Mr. Weder has some good ideas about removing non-essential materials to make the remaining materials fit. What it made me think about, though, was “what is a library?” In the old days, libraries were just for books. I think Ben Franklin started libraries back several hundred years ago, when most people couldn’t afford to own their own books. Over the years, periodicals (newspapers and magazines were added), then books on tape and CD, and videocassettes and DVDs. These are educational as well as for entertainment. More recently, Internet-accessible PCs were added. Again, these can be educational (used for research) or just for pleasure. Theoretically, everything except the PCs could be removed and the library could oper-
ture and the present revolution of Southern independence”. After the war was over both Jefferson Davis and Alexander Stevens changed their tune to a more politically correct reasoning for the war which was, the war was started over states rights, a much more noble cause. This change was understandable, for how could they or anyone admit that they helped start a war in which over 620,000 Americans died in an attempt to keep 4,000,000 fellow Americans in slavery? Now I am sure that many people supported the war and fought in the war for various reasons just as wars are fought today and for the most part these reasons are just and honorable. Most Southern soldiers fought to defend their homeland and their honor. Most northern soldiers fought to protect the union and keep us as one country. So why was the war fought, I think you have to go along with the reasons that were given by the main players and that reason was slavery, the expansion of slavery in the new territories and the continuation of slavery in the southern states. Donald Cropp Valley Lee, MD
ate quite well, since more and more materials are now on-line or downloadable. I personally would like to see the library maintain its entire variety of holdings as I have used them all, but space will always be an issue, especially as the number of PCs grows and their use continues to grow in popularity with library customers. The real issue is, and I know the library struggles with it, is what a library should be. Ultimately, it may not be a place where people come to visit and spend time, but a storehouse of computers and servers accessible via Internet to download all sorts of media and information. I’m not anxious for that day to come, but it is a distinct possibility in the long term. Al Kaniss Hughesville
To The Editor:
The County Times
Guest Editorial:
By Marta Mossburg
Letter to Santa Dear Santa,
My parents tell me not to expect much this year. My Dad used to sell cars but his dealership closed, so he couldn’t get cash for clunkers. And my Mom is a real estate agent in Baltimore City. She says the tiny fraction of people who can get mortgages only want to buy homes in surrounding counties where property taxes are at least two times lower, people don’t break into their cars on the street at night and kids who set fires and beat teachers can be expelled from school. So it’s looking pretty bare under the Christmas tree this year. That’s why I am writing to ask you for a personal stimulus plan for my family. My brother and I would really like a Nintendo Wii ($279 for the “Family Fun” package at Wal-Mart). I know my Mom would like a Kindle ($259) and monthly wrinkle-reducing and lipplumping treatments ($300) she says are necessary to sell houses. And my Dad would like a personal trainer ($50 a pop) to work off the beer he’s been drinking since he stopped working. We would also like to take our annual trip to Barbados in February and get a new flat-screen TV since ours is only 42 inches wide. Do you think you can help? You always seem to be so generous with elected officials, government employees and those who are well connected to those people. I just read about how the mayor of Baltimore, Sheila Dixon, scored lots of things she didn’t pay for, like Jimmy Choo shoes (my Mom says they are FABULOUS) and a stack of gift cards she used to buy an Xbox, PlayStation 2 and a video camera. As noted, my brother and I only want a Wii. And then I read that state legislators are probably going to get a raise and better pensions, whatever those are. My Dad says no one in the private sector has them. It seems like a pretty sweet deal for people who work three months of the year. State employees also have a pretty kickin’ job. I wish I had an average 11 weeks of paid sick time and vacation like employees in the Department of Natural Resources! My mom won’t let me fake sick to stay home from school for even one day, and they pay for me to go there. And what about the $10.5 million in earmarks that Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., recently directed to Northrop Grumman, Thales Communications and L-3 Communications, all of whom were generous campaign contributors? I don’t know if they were naughty or nice, but you know that I regularly walk our dogs, Ayn and Rand, and pick up their poop even when no one is looking. In short, it seems only fair to give my family our wish list because of all the goodies you give to people who make us live by their rules and pay for them. As a bonus, if the Botox and personal training work for my parents, they may even have to pay “millionaire” taxes, helping to close Maryland’s $2 billion structural deficit. I’m counting on you, Santa! Sincerely, Tommy, age 9 Washington Examiner Columnist Marta Mossburg is a senior fellow with the Maryland Public Policy Institute and lives in Baltimore.
Enough Is Enough!
Americans take heed! Now is the time to resolve your problems with Congress. It is the time to vote all incumbents out of office. This is the only way to get rid of career politicians. Sure we will get rid of some good politicians, but the chances are slight. Rarely hear of a good politician. Recently an article in the paper stated that all Republicans had a meeting to never vote with the Democrats on any law being presented to the House or Senate during the next four years, the current government is in power. No bipartisan gestures are allowed?? Politicians are self-serving or they would never exempt themselves from any bill they pass for all Americans but themselves. Every time they exempt themselves you can bet they are benefiting in some way financially or in additional benefits. Who ever gave them this right is unknown. Politicians or bureaucrats have not changed through the years. A long time ago, Marcus Tullius Cicero (43 BC) stated: “A bureaucrat is the most despicable of men,
though he is needed as vultures are needed but one hardly admires vultures who bureaucrats so strangely resemble. I have yet to meet a bureaucrat who was not petty, dull, almost witless, crafty or stupid, an oppressor or a thief, a holder of little authority in which he delights as a boy delights in possessing a vicious dog. Who can trust such creatures? Politicians are non-responsive to their constituents, the people who voted them to office. Fellow Americans, now is the time to act. Congress is not doing their job. They cannot agree on anything. Vote the incumbents out and give someone else a chance to prove themselves. Our forefathers never envisioned that there would be career politicians. Their terms in Congress were for a short period of time and then back to their personal professions. God help our country! Let us get rid of self-serving career politicians. Daniel Wilson Leonardtown, Md
Send to:
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Money Company
Wal-Mart Harley Davidson Best Buy Lockheed Martin BAE Systems Computer Science Corp. Dyncorp International Inc. General Dynamics Corp. Mantech International Corp. Northrop Grunman Corp.
The County Times
Wednesday, December 23, 2009 An average American child watches approximately 28 hours of television in one week.
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Change
-5.03% 52.09% 43.83% -10.09% 1.66% 61.72% -7.71% 18.54% -11.70% 24.58%
Dozens of friends and supporters showed up at Hair in The Square in Lexington Park last Saturday to support two students from Great Mills High School who are battling cancer. Genny Anderson, 18, who is fighting off a fifth round of bone cancer, had her head shaved, rather than see her hair slowly fall out. Several friends also shaved their heads or had pink and purple streaks dyed. “It was purple for Bree and pink for me,” Genny said, adding that Brianna Maida, who has Hodgkin’s lymphoma, was unable to make it to the impromptu event. Genny is shown in the photos, getting her head shaved by friends and after with her mother and father, Barbara Anderson and Keith Brady.
Limi te
ics and public image. Ninety-eight percent of the Edward Jones financial advisors surveyed said they work for the “best firm,” while 97 percent said they’ll be at Edward Jones two years from now, according to the trade magazine. “Considering the extraordinary challenges we have faced in the economy and our industry, this ranking is especially meaningful to us this year,” said Edward Jones Managing Partner Jim Weddle.
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Edward JonesandRanked No.1 compensation, senior management, overall eth-
For the 17th consecutive year, Edward Jones ranked No. 1 in Registered Rep. magazine’s annual survey of the nation’s five largest financial services firms, reports John A. Walters, an Edward Jones Financial Advisor in Leonardtown. The magazine randomly selects financial advisors nationwide and asks them to rank their firms in various categories. Edward Jones’ overall score was 9.4 out of 10 possible points. The overall average for all firms was 7.6. Edward Jones scored highest in all of the 17 categories ranked, including overall work environment
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Wednesday, December 23, 2009
The County Times
Social Media Added To Communications Arsenal
One week after his Facebook page — www.facebook. com⁄mcpon — surpassed 10,000 “fans” Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)(SS⁄SW) Rick D. West used the Web site to announce his intent to further leverage social media as a significant communications device. West, in a note he posted to Facebook, said he anticipates another thousand fans by Christmas, and that the response he has received from Sailors and Navy families has been surprising and encouraging. He also said that the real value of social media is the opportunity to share ideas. “We started out tentatively, and that’s fine. But, now that we have momentum, I believe we should push it even further. I want to start putting your best ideas on our page,” West wrote. “Is your command doing something like that? If so, let us know. We want to introduce that idea to the fleet and leverage it for the good of all Sailors.” West unveiled his public Facebook page June 25 and has been aggressive in tackling subjects Sailors around the Navy tell him they are most concerned with. “We’ve discussed the wear policy for the NWU and your feedback made its way to our CNO. We’ve discussed women aboard submarines and the debates on that subject have been enlightening and well-spoken. Almost every decision or new policy released or considered in the last half-year has been brought up here and discussed. I find that is immensely gratifying and I hope it continues.”
MCPON wrote that he hopes for even more interaction in the future, but pointed that it has never been his intent to use Facebook, or any form of social media, to subvert a Sailor’s standard chain of command. West said that often the responses he provides to Sailors’ questions are short and to the point. “Many times, the answer I give you will boil down to, ‘Ask your CMC,’ because we have to ensure your command is aware and
engaged at their level for the issue,” he said. Since then, West has branched out to other areas of social media, as well. Accounts with Twitter (http:⁄⁄twitter. com⁄MCPONPAO), Flickr (www.flickr. com⁄photos⁄43070230@N03⁄) and Slideshare (www.slideshare.net⁄ mcponpao) all host archives of various communications products West has pushed to the Navy’s Chief Petty Officer’s Mess.
US. Navy Photo Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Rick West conducts a Defense Connect Online meeting with senior leadership during a working lunch while on travel visiting Sailors at Naval Air Station Lemoore.
DOD Releases 2010 Housing Rates
The Department of Defense released the 2010 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates. Military members will receive an average housing allowance increase of 2.5 percent when the new rates take effect, Jan. 1, 2010. For members with dependents, average increases in the BAH are approximately $37 per month. A typical junior enlisted member with dependents, for example, will find his/her BAH about $25 per month higher than last year, while a senior non-commissioned officer with dependents will receive about $42 more than last year. Three components are included in the BAH computation: median current market rent; average utilities (including electricity, heat, and water/sewer); and average renter’s insurance. Total housing costs are calculated for six housing profiles (based on dwelling type and number of bedrooms) in each military housing area. BAH rates are then calculated for each pay grade, both with and without dependents. An estimated $19 billion will be paid to nearly 1 million service members in 2010. An integral part of the BAH program is the provision of individual rate protection to all members. No matter what happens to measured housing costs, an individual member in a given location will not see his/ her BAH rate decrease. This assures that members who have made long-term commitments in the form of a lease or contract are not penalized if the area’s housing costs decrease. The continued improvement in housing allowances represents the Department’s commitment to the preservation of a compensation and benefit structure that provides members with a suitable and secure standard of living to sustain a trained, experienced, and ready force in the future. For more information on BAH, visit http://perdiem. hqda.pentagon.mil/perdiem/bah.html.
The U.S. Department of Defense recently announced the following contract awards that pertain to Navy activities connected to Naval Air Station Patuxent River. Wyle Laboratories, Inc., Huntsville, Ala., is being awarded a $30,605,633 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contract (N00421-03-D-0015) to execute an award term for continued E-2C/E-2D/C-2 planning, program and financial services in support of the Navy and the governments of Egypt, France, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan and Canada under the Foreign Military Sales program. Work will be performed in Patuxent River, Md., and is expected to be completed in December 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. Raydiance, Inc., Petaluma, Calif., is being awarded a $9,925,000 ceiling priced indefinite-delivery/indefinitequantity contract for a Phase III Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program that will expedite necessary ultrafast laser research and development in order to meet both Navy mission and commercial needs by providing funding to both
integrate the technology developed and continue pursuing innovations in ultrafast laser technology from Phase I and Phase II. Phase I and Phase II work derives from, extends, or logically concludes efforts performed under prior SBIR/ Small Business Technology Transfer program contracts. Work will be performed in Petaluma, Calif., and is expected to be completed in September 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00421-10-D-0002). Northrop Grumman Corp., Integrated Systems, Bethpage, N.Y., is being awarded a $9,300,000 modification to a previously awarded firmf i xe d -
price contract (N00019-08-C-0027) for non-recurring engineering in support of new supplier qualification and startup in support of E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft low-rate initial production Lot 1 and 2 aircraft. Work will be performed in Bethpage, N.Y. (40.63 percent); Edgewood, N.Y. (22.35 percent); St. Augustine, Fla., (20.86 percent); Airesur-l’Adour, France (14.17 percent); and various locations within the continental United States (1.99 percent). Work is expected to be completed in January 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.
The County Times
Mary “Theresa” Bailey, 91
Mary “Theresa” Bailey, 91, of Colton’s Point, MD died on December 17, 2009, at St. Mary’s Nursing Center. Born December 4, 1918 in Bushwood, MD, she was the daughter of the late William Thomas and Catherine Beatrice Morgan Gibson. She was the loving wife of the late Joseph David Bailey whom she married on June 15, 1941 in Holy Angels Church and who preceded her in death on January 24, 1992. She was also preceded in death by her daughter Anne Elizabeth Guy on July 23, 1994 as well as her siblings; Louise Bruse, Jack Gibson, George B. Gibson and Rita Schuhart. She is survived by her sisters Catherine Tippett of Coltons Point, MD and Mary Clare Gibb of VA as well as seven grandchildren, sixteen greatgrandchildren and nine greatgreat grandchildren. A lifelong resident of St. Mary’s County, Mrs. Bailey graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in 1936. The family received friends on Monday, December 21, 2009 in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD where prayers were said. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 in Holy Angels Catholic Church, Avenue, MD with Fr. William Gurnee officiating. Interment followed in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Bushwood, MD. Condolences to the family may be made to www.mgf h.com. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.
Jospehine “Linda” Berg, 61 Josephine Laurinda “Linda” Berg, 61, of Leonardtown, MD died December 18, 2009 at St. Mary’s Hospital. Born April 25, 1948 in Leonardtown, MD she was the daughter of the late Joseph Lang and Eunice Laurinda (Ridgell) Berg. Linda enjoyed embroidery, f lower gardening, watching softball, and spending time with family and friends, especially her grandchildren. She worked
for many years as a data processor at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station and was an elderly caregiver and childcare provider. Linda is survived by her husband, Harold I. Berg, Sr., children; Janet Lightburn (Wayne) of Dover, DE and Harold I. “Howie” Berg, Jr. (Brook) of St. Inigoes, MD, siblings; Michael Lang of Owings, MD, Renee Raynor of Jacksonville, FL, Tony Lang of Hollywood, MD, Henrietta Scibilia of Jacksonville, FL, Veronica Lang of Madison, WI, Cheryl Herron of IN, Chris Lang of Dallas, TX, George Lang of Dallas, TX, Harry Lang of Prince Frederick, MD, Jimmy Lang of Lexington Park, MD, and Deenie Compton of Jacksonville, FL, six grandchildren; Bailey, Brett, Brenden, Brandon, Breanna and Kasandra. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Margaret Lang. Family will receive friends for Linda’s Life Celebration on Wednesday, December 23, 2009
from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Prayers will be recited at 7 p.m. A funeral service will be conducted on Thursday, December 24, 2009 at 11 a.m. at the First Friendship Campus Community Methodist Church, Ridge, MD. Pastor Keith Schukraft will officiate. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Serving, as pallbearers will be David Lang, Tony Lang, Chris Lang, Michael Lang, Wayne Lightburn and Brandon Lightburn. Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.
Agnes Courtney, 59 Agnes C. Courtney, 59 of Hollywood, MD passed away on December 18, 2009 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Leonardtown, MD. Born May 1, 1950 in Morganza, MD she was the daughter of the late John C. Holt and Carrie E. Mason Holt. Mrs. Courtney attended
Public schools in St. Mary’s County; she worked in housekeeping at St. Mary’s Hospital. Agnes enjoyed the Washington Redskins and soap operas. Mrs. Courtney is survived by her husband, Herbert L.
Courtney of Hollywood, MD, children; Sherlene Courtney of Lexington Park, MD, Anthony Holt of Leonardtown, MD, Herbert Courtney of Lexington Park, MD, James Courtney of Mechanicsville, MD, Joseph Courtney of Hollywood, MD and John Courtney of Hollywood, MD, siblings; Sarah Holt of Lexington Park, MD, Robert Holt of Morganza, MD, Evangeline Holt of Leonardtown, MD, David Holt of Hughesville, MD and Rose Holt of Morganza, MD, also survived by 17 grandchildren. In addition to her parents Agnes was preceded in death by one son, Mark Courtney and siblings; Pauline A. Medley, Arcadia Holt, Patrick Holt, Phillip Holt and John C. Holt. Family will receive friends on Monday, December 28, 2009 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Morganza, MD a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. in the church with Father Keith Woods officiating. Pallbearers will be; Joseph Holt, Robert Toye, John Banks, Herbert Wayne Courtney, Kevin Morgan and Justin Butler. Interment will follow in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, MD. Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com Arrangements provided by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
School before starting his own business. He was a self-employed excavating contractor for over 46 years and had recently turned the business over to his son. He loved his chosen profession and many people will remember his smiling face. He dearly loved his family, especially working with his son. He also loved his farm and raising crops and cows for pleasure, certainly not for profit. He was a long time member of the St. Mary’s County Farm Bureau, having once served on its Board of Directors. Mr. Cullison is survived by his wife of thirty-eight years, Barbara Henderson Cullison, his son, Clayton Edward “Eddie” Cullison, Jr. and wife Theresa Anne, two granddaughters, Gracie Anne and Lily Elizabeth. He is also survived by his brother Joseph Richard “Dickie”
Cullison and wife Regina of St. George Island, MD, sisters, June C. Diesel of Baltimore, MD and Mary Virginia Woods of Fairfax Station, VA, many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to your favorite charity or service organization. Condolences to the family may be made to www.brinsfieldfuneral.com. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD
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of Solomons, MD passed away on December 20, 2009 at Asbury-Solomons Nursing Center of complications associated with pancreatic cancer. She lived in Leonardtown for sixteen years prior to moving to Asbury in June 2009. Esther was born on September 29, 1921 in Blue Island, IL, a suburb of Chicago. She graduated from Thornton Township High School in Harvey, IL in 1940. In 1943 she joined the Women’s Army Corps, and achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant before her discharge in 1946. She married Edward S. Johnson on January 15, 1946 in Frederick, MD. She lived in Northern Virginia for thirty-two years. After raising her children, Esther worked for Sears in the appliance repair service center. She retired in 1988 at age 67; she moved to Leonardtown in 1933. Esther was an active member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and spent her free time doing sewing for charities and visiting the infirm and shut-in. She was a dedicated homemaker devoted to her family, serving her Lord, and helping anyone in need. Esther is survived by her husband Edward, three children; Dennis, Byron, and Bradley Johnson, six grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Family will receive friends on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Leonardtown, MD. A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. In lieu of f lowers, memorial contributions may be made to the soup kitchen of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 65, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.
Joseph Lacey, 63
Esther Johnson, 88
Clayton “Eddie” Cullison Sr., 66 Clayton Edward “Eddie” Cullison, Sr., 66, of Valley Lee, MD died December 16, 2009 at his residence from complications of congestive heart failure. Born February 19, 1943 in Valley Lee, MD, he was the youngest child of the late Paul Edward Cullison and Mary Magdalene (Wood) Cullison. Mr. Cullison attended Little Flower School and St. Michael’s
Esther Violet Johnson, 88,
Joseph G. Lacey (Gerry), 63, of California, MD passed away on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at the VAMC in Perry Point, MD.
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Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Born October 29, 1946 in Leonardtown, MD he was the son of the late Joseph Francis Lacey and Mildred Rosa (Ching) Lacey of Great Mills, MD. Gerry is survived by his sisters Mary Anne Trevino of California, MD and Elaine Kulhanek of McAlister, OK, nieces, a nephew and cousins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister Carolyn Latham formerly of Bryans Road, MD. A graveside service was held on Monday, December 21, 2009 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. 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, MD.
The County Times
Continued Ron L. Davis of Lexington Park, MD, also survived by six grandchildren. Services were private. Condolences may be made to the family at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com Arrangements provided by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD
Mary Wagner, 66 Mary Jeanette Wagner, 66 of Lexington Park, MD passed away on December 13, 2009 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Leonardtown, MD. Born January 5, 1943 in Baltimore, MD she was the daughter of the late Thomas F. and Nettie Sothoron. Mrs. Wagner was a homemaker. Mary is survived by her children; Edgar Marquis, Jr. of Lexington Park, MD, Richard Marquis of Madison, IL, E. Wayne Davis of Lexington Park, MD, V. Ginger Ortiz of Brooklyn Park, MD and
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The County Times
Briefs Woman Charged With Neglecting Children On December 15, 2009 deputies responded to a residence Lexwood Court in Lexington Park for a report of a fight involving weapons. It was discovered during the course of investigating the fight that two juvenile’s aged 1 and 2 years old had been locked into a room of the apartment, sleeping on the floor, without proper clothing or supervision. The residence was unsanitary and littered with empty alcoholic beverage containers. The custodial adult, April Dawn Sprouse, 21, of Lexington Park was not at the residence. Sprouse was located, arrested and charged with two counts of second degree child abuse.
Man Charged With Fraud During Test On December 16, 2009 Dfc. Watters responded to the Office of Parole and Probation in Leonardtown to a report of attempting to defraud a urinalysis examination. Investigation revealed Joseph Michael Burkhard, III, 27, of Mechanicsville, who is court ordered to submit to urinalysis examinations, allegedly attempted to conceal a bottle of urine in his waistband as he entered the District Court building. The District Court building houses the offices of parole and probation, where Burkhard was heading to submit to a urine analysis. Further investigation revealed it was Burkhard’s alleged intent to substitute the concealed urine for his own in an attempt to defraud the examination. Burkhard was arrested and charged with attempting to defraud a drug screening examination.
Man Charged With Theft On July17, 2009 Fredy Herman Eatmon II, 44, of Dameron was issued a notice not to trespass on the property of the K-Mart Store in California. On December 17, 2009 the loss prevention officer for K-Mart observed Eatmon enter the store, and allegedly remove items from the shelves and place them into his jacket pocket. Eatmon walked past all points of purchase and attempted to exit the store when he was stopped and detained by the loss prevention officer. Cpl. John Logalbo responded to the K-Mart, reviewed the thefts recorded on the in-store video surveillance system, arrested and charged Eatmon with trespassing and theft.
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Wednesday, December 23, 2009
12
Detectives On The Lookout For Suspect By Guy Leonard Staff Writer
County investigators are trying to locate a man they suspect of coming up to a child at a bus stop on St. George’s Island last week who is alleged to have assaulted the waiting child. Capt. Terry Black, commander of the Bureau of Criminal Investigations, said that the Dec. 14 incident stands alone and there have not been any reports of such incidents leading up to it or since. Black said that the type of incident reported by the 11-year-old girl was unusual, especially in the St. George’s Island area. “She was just approached at a bus stop and he asked her several questions about herself,” Black said. “When she went to leave he grabbed her arm but she was able to pull away; he ran back into the woods.” Police have been unable to locate the suspect yet, Black said, but detectives have gone through the sex offender lists for that part of the county and have not found a match to the suspect. Police hope that a composite sketch they have released will bring in more information from the public in the manhunt, Black said. Black said that deputies have increased their patrols of the St. George’s Island area in the aftermath of the incident, there were no
other witnesses to the incident but Black said the girl’s story was reliable. However, the case is not being handled as an attempted abduction, he said. “It’s being treated as an assault, there’s no indication he forced her or asked her to go anywhere,” Black said. guyleonard@countytimes.net.
New Phone Application Can Connect To Crime Stats By Guy Leonard Staff Writer
The county sheriff’s office is promoting a new iPhone application that allows users to look at up-to-date crime statistics on-line for their own communities. The information citizens can download includes neighborhood level crimes, national sex offender registry lists with an emphasis on local offenders, and e-mailed crime alerts. The new application was created by designers at CrimeReports.com, which runs a na-
tionwide Web site that allows residents to view their neighborhood’s crime level. The application is available through the iTunes application store. “The information is vital to our citizens’ safety and providing the information to the general public through a mobile device allows citizens ever easier access to it than before,” said Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron. The application also allows users to look into crime data from 600 other jurisdictions across the nation including registered sex offender information for all 50 states.
PNC Bank Robbery Defendant Gets 19 Years By Guy Leonard Staff Writer
The man who federal authorities say led the heist of the PNC Bank in September of 2008 that involved the kidnapping of the bank manager and her children to facilitate the robbery has been sentenced to 19 years in prison. According to information from U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein’s office, as part of Joseph Franklin Brown’s plea agreement, he admitted to making his income through the sale of illegal drugs but devised a plan to rob the PNC Bank in Esperanza to supplement his income with conspirators William Johnson and Quinita Ennis. On September 24, 2008 Ennis drove Johnson and Brown to the bank manager’s home in Calvert County and kidnapped both her and her children. Johnson then went with the bank manager to the bank and forced her to withdraw $169,000 from the bank, while he held the bank manager’s son hostage in her own vehicle, according to federal authorities.
Brown and Ennis later picked up Johnson and the money after he had released them at a nearby elementary school and drove off to meet his fellow conspirators, according to federal authorities. After the heist, federal authorities state, Brown, Johnson, Ennis and conspirator Edwin Jones went to New Jersey to spend the proceeds at casinos on gambling ventures. Brown and Johnson also attempted to bury some of the money from the robbery in the backyard of one of their residences and also attempted to burn camouflage clothing and dispose of the 9mm rifle used in the crime. The conspirators also obtained plane tickets to travel to Las Vegas, Nevada and even set aside funds to relocate to North Carolina following the heist, federal authorities state. After the conspirators were found out, arrested and pleaded guilty they were all sentenced to varying federal prison terms and were forced to pay more than $57,000 in restitution each back to the bank. guyleonard@countytimes.net
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The County Times
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
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The County Times
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
14
Leonardtown H.S. Students Win FAW Wins Champion’s Award in FLL Qualifying Event Top Secretary General’s Award
During the weekend of December 12, 2009, Global Diplomacy students from Leonardtown High School captured the top Secretary General’s Award for Research/Position Paper during the 26th annual Prince William County Model United Nations Conference held at C.D. Hylton High School. Over 1,300 students attended the conference, including 32 students from Leonardtown High School. Leonardtown H.S. beat out students from Thomas Jefferson High School in
Northern Virginia (recently named the top high school in the nation by U.S. News and World Report), and students from 70 other high schools. Leonardtown H.S. students Pat Bauk, Megan Switick, Mollie Wagoner, Brent Thorward, and Eddie Sierra were also recognized as Outstanding Delegates in their respective committees. For more details, contact Mr. Mike Denny, Leonardtown H.S. social studies teacher, at 301475-0200.
New Playground at Carver Heights Community Park
Photo by Sean Rice The Carver Heights Community Park in Lexington Park now features a new playground. Completed on Dec. 14, the playground was put to use by children as soon as it was unveiled. The Board of County Commissioners for St. Mary’s County approved funds in March to begin the master planning and park development on this county property on Lincoln Avenue near the Carver Recreation Center. In addition to the playground, planned amenities include a memorial to the African American USO building formerly located at the property, picnic tables, refurbishment of the basketball court, new walkways and resurfacing of the parking lot.
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Thank you for helping St. Michael’s School reach our initial goal. Additional funds will help keep the school open for future years!
Go to www.smsthanksamillion.org to make it happen.
ck into ‘Tis the Season to put “Christ”tiba cation Christmas by giving the gift of Chris an Edu Mark your calendars for the
First Annual St. Michael’s School Gala on Saturday, February 27th, 2010 at Mary’s Hope in St. Inigoes. Seating is limited.
If people sign up their store cards to support St. Michael’s School, McKays, Target, and Giant will donate percentages of those sales to the school.
www.saint-michaels-school.org
Learn More About St. Michael’s School’s Fundraising Initiative with the Affinity VISA Credit Card Program. St. Michael’s School gets benefits from enrollments and card usage. www.saint-michaels-school.org/SMSAffinity.html
Other Christmas Events That Will Be Benefiting St. Michael’s School Include: The Holiday Plant Sale, the Personalized Luminaries Sale, and the St. Michael’s School Calendar Raffle.
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For the first time ever, Father Andrew White (FAW) School is participating in the annual FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Lego League (FLL) competition. FIRST is a worldwide program that uses robotics and exciting sports-like competitions to help students develop the skills needed to compete in the technology-driven global economy. This year, there will be ten qualifying tournaments around the state of Maryland in order to determine which teams get to move on to the state competition in January. On December 5th, FAW competed in the first of these qualifying events held at the College of Southern Maryland in La Plata. Eleven FLL teams, representing Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties, played the game ‘Smart Move’ where pre-programmed robots moved through an obstacle course laden
with real-world transportation issues such as road conditions, work zones and hazards. Father Andrew White School was one of six of the teams that placed high enough to advance to the Maryland State FLL Championships, the others being Kings Christian Academy in Callaway, Charles County 4-H Club in Indian Head and unaffiliated teams from Prince Frederick, Owings and Indian Head. “The group took on a major safety issue,” said one judge while explaining the objectives of the game. “After examining the problem indepth, this group offered a significant, patentquality idea, the Life Ring, an instrumented steering wheel designed to keep truckers from falling asleep and from driving excessive hours. The judges were impressed by this group’s passion, insights into the problem, and innovative solution to the real-world problem.” Though proud of all their accolades, the group took particular pride in winning the Champion’s Award out of the eleven teams competing. This award is the most prestigious award that any team can win. The FAW team has been working under the guidance of teachers Barbara Jones and Shannon Rowland as coaches, and will now move on to the next level of competition at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in January. The team members include: 8th gradeEthan Rudman, Rohan Singh, Natalie Krissoff, and Colin Travis, 6th grade-Kiranjit Kaur, Abigail Padgett, Hannah Willenborg, and Quinten Williams, and the 4th grade-Jordan Jones and Mikey VanRyswick.
Southern Maryland Students Advance in Robotics Competitions The road to Atlanta and robotics worldwide championship gold is paved with nuts, bolts, gears, PVC pipe and, surprisingly, rip ties. CSM had two competitions going on simultaneously on Dec. 5: the FTC for highschool-aged students, and FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Southern Maryland Qualifier for elementary and middle school students part of CSM’s ongoing efforts to spur interest among youth to pursue science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers. “STEM at CSM is one of our most intensive initiatives,” said CSM President Dr. Brad Gottfried. “From summer robotics and rocket building camps offered by Kids College, to ‘Try College for a Day’ fifth-grade field trips with non-stop hands-on science activities, to high school robotics competitions, CSM is providing opportunities for Southern Maryland students to explore science fields.” As a way of boosting interest in STEM careers, CSM has hosted robotics competitions since 2006. “We see the FIRST robotics competitions as vital to getting the word out to students that engineering is fun,” said Jeff Tjiputra, who coordinates the competitions. Southern Maryland FTC teams representing the Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technical Center in Leonardtown, King’s Christian Academy in Callaway and a homeschool group in Hollywood played the game ‘HotShot’ where teams had to program their robot to release Wiffle-sized balls from a chute, scoop them up and shoot them into goals within and outside of a 12-foot-by-12foot arena. The teams were paired up in alliances working offensively and defensively to
outscore the opposing alliance. The Spangler family’s homeschool team ‘Under the Son’ was in the finalist alliance and as such is an alternate for the World Championship.
From the Dr. James Forrest Career and Technology Center in Leonardtown, the Pacman team of programmer Jesse Arnold of Bushwood, left, driver and mechanic Jon Milan of California and team leader Gabrielle Menard of Hollywood, came on so strong in their opening match they broke a PVC trigger arm off the ball chute. (Submitted photo)
15
The County Times
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The County Times
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The Shreve family never thought they would be able to afford buying a house in St. Mary’s County. “In this area, unless you make a $100,000 a year, it’s very hard to own a home,” Tiffany Shreve told The County Times. Tiffany and her husband Bill have two children and two decent jobs; he works in the wastewater division of METCOM, the county’s water and sewer utility, and she teaches preschool at Good Samaritan Lutheran Church on Great Mills Road. While they are working toward degrees currently, neither of them have a college education. “I guess you could say our education has held us back from being able to make more money,’ Tiffany said. Before being selected as the recipients of Patuxent Habitat for Humanity’s first home in its new Fenwick Ridge subdivision off Forest Park Road, the only homes the Shreves could find in their price range were trailers or houses that were literally falling apart. “We were talking about moving out of state, because there was nothing in this area that we wanted to move into,” Tiffany said. “My dad has been telling us for a couple years, ‘apply for Habitat, apply for Habitat,’ but we thought we couldn’t qualify for it.” “Me and my husband, we didn’t think this is something we were able to do,” she said about owing a home, or even qualifying for Habitat for Humanity help. And help is what Habitat does, not handouts. Recipients of Habitat homes are required to hold a mortgage to pay for the house, and put in hundreds of hours of “sweat equity” while the home is being built. The Shreves described the application process as rigorous. “They look into everything,” Tiffany said. “That’s why they look at all your finances and look at your credit, because they want to make sure that you’ll be able to pay for it … This is kind of a good will thing on their end and they want to make sure you’re not going to screw them.” “We have three criteria for family selection,” said Gary Williams, former president and member of Board of Directors for Patuxent Habitat for Humanity. “The first is if they live in inadequate housing currently, and that could mean the house structure’s inadequate, or the rent is beyond their means … or if they’re living with their family. The second criteria is that they have a good credit rating, and the third criteria is their income has to be between 25 and 50 percent of the median income.”
Tiffany said the 30-year mortgage they signed is still $500 a month less than the last monthly rent they were paying. This is the 12th house the Patuxent Habitat for Humanity has built in Calvert and St. Mary’s counties, and its first fully “green” home. The 1140 square-foot, south-facing home has numerous energy efficient features, including: minimal windows on the north side where more cold air could come in, a conditioned insulated basement, with walls with five inches of insulation, and a geothermal pump for heating and cooling. The geothermal pump systems uses two 200-foot wells in a closed loop system circulating 55-60 degree glycol through the ground and back into the house as a heat exchanger. In
Photo by Andrea Shiell
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Photo by Frank Marquart The Shreve family; Tiffany, Bill, Autumn and Lacey, are thankful for their new house, build by the Patuxent Habitat for Humanity with the help of numerous volunteers. Shown inside during a house dedication in early December, they were given the keys and a bible after the house was blessed.
a little bit along the way. But the end result has been very, very wonderful.” The plan was to have the house completed in late summer, confirmed Diane Daly, Director of Administration at Patuxent Hab Habitat for Humanity, but the extremely wet autumn weather and other factors delayed the project considerably. subdi “It’s been a learning experience for Habitat, as far as new subdiPhoto by Andrea Shiell visions work,” Daly said. “There’s lots of learning going on here.” Tiffany Shreve said her family is fine with being the “guinea pigs” for Habitat. “This is a new construction build. In the past Habitat has gone the summer the glycol is used to keep the house cool. The unit cost about $13,000 including in- into neighborhoods that are already established. With our house it’s stallation, but a state energy grant paid $6,000 a completely new subdivision and completely new everything, so towards that cost. The unit is estimated to cut they’re having to go through all the steps. It’s a learning process for everybody,” she said. energy costs by 40 percent. The house is complete and the Shreves have the keys, but they “This is a celebration about community,” said Dan Doherty, president of the Board of Di- can’t move in yet. A certificate of occupancy is still needed, which rectors for Patuxent Habitat, at a house dedica- will be granted after the electric is connected and the driveway is tion earlier this month. “We have a lot of won- completed. Daly said she still hopes the family will be able to move in this derful volunteers here, and none of this could happen without the volunteers and the business- winter. The Shreves moved in with Tiffany’s parents in August, anticies working together with our local government pating an earlier move in date. She said they’re not upset about the to make all of this happen.” delays, the extra time has allowed them to save up money to buy This house was also an “Apostles Build.” “We brought together numerous churches furniture to fill the place. “I’m Just happy about the fact that I’m going to own a house and … to come together and pool their resources and make a commitment so this home could be it’s going to be my house,” Tiffany said. “And I don’t have to answer built,” said Doherty. “For those of us who have to somebody every time I want to do something.” been involved with this from its early goings, news@countytimes.net like the apostles, I think we had our faith tested
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The County Times
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
18
Newsmakers
Kids Play Santa at St. Mary’s Nursing Center
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For staff and residents at the St. Mary’s County Nursing Center in Leonardtown, Christmas is a chance to string up the lights, sing a few carols and make the atmosphere a little more cozy, and children from Little Seedlings Christian Preschool and Kindergarten in Leonardtown and Patuxent Presbyterian Church in California joined in as they delivered dozens of presents to residents at the center on Thursday. Kim Simpkins, Activities Photo By Andrea Shiell Director for St. Mary’s NursPatrick Williams and Ryan Williams help deliver presents to resiing Center, said that this year’s gift giving was a joint effort. dents at the St. Mary’s County Nursing Center in Leonardtown. “The Little Seedlings that grandma and grandpa need to have gifts partnered with another church, and they’ve for Christmas … it really meant something to actually been coming over for a long time for them because they all have grandmothers and events near Valentine’s Day and other events grandfathers, who may not be here, but we throughout the year, and this year they decided shouldn’t forget them.” they wanted to adopt residents,” she said. Simpkins said that the nursing center was “We put out an adoption tree … and it’s grateful to have the help of the community in for residents who would otherwise not receive bringing a bit more holiday spirit to the resia Christmas gift. Either they don’t have family, dents there, and she had recognized the growor they don’t have family members involved ing need for such an effort several years ago. with them. They also donate items through“I’ve been here for about 15 years, and out the year,” said Simpkins, adding that chil- I’d say that at least five to eight years ago, we dren would only be delivering gifts that day, found that for some of the residents, it’s really and staff members would dress up as elves to depressing to be in a nursing home at Christgive out the gifts to all their residents at a later mas time and not at your home,” she said. “So date. this and their gifts, and the children and the “Today happened because Kay Priest cheer we try to spread really makes it a better – who’s right here – contacted the school and Christmas for everybody.” said that the nursing home needed some people to be adopted for Christmas,” said Lynn Duff, Director for Little Seedlings. “And we have a mom at our school from Patuxent Presbyterian who said that she would do those that we couldn’t do. So we did 40 residents because for our children it’s very important for them to know
3
Question Interview
Interviewing: Mike Zabko Mike Zabko, who has been Regional Director of the Southern Maryland Chapter of the American Red Cross for nine years, does not like discussing his age (“That’s classified information,” he said.), but he loves talking about his passion for working to keep people safe. As a local director of emergency services he said that most people don’t get to see what his chapter does, but he was more than happy to share a little of it with The County Times. CT: Not many people realize how much the Red Cross does. How would you describe your services? MZ: We have health and safety training, we train all the people in first aid and CPR … we do aquatics training throughout southern Maryland, we have babysitting training, and we ensure that all that lifesaving training gets done … we also provide services to the armed forces. All these emergency messages coming through and going to our service numbers here and abroad come through the Red Cross … we’re doing about two messages per day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Interestingly enough, for the health and safety training, we’re doing about 40 classes per
day … and we also do local disaster services. CT: Describe what local efforts you all help with. MZ: Lots of people see the Red Cross in its disaster service function on television when you see the hurricanes or tsunamis, or whatever when it’s nation-wide news or world news, but they never see what we do locally. We have about a hundred local disasters that take place each year. A local disaster could be as small as a water pipe break that has to evacuate a small apartment complex, to single family home fires, to last year – we had a tornado that came through North Beach and it displaced about 10 families, and people don’t see a lot of that in the newspaper. CT: On your website (http://southernmaryland. redcross.org/) you have a section for the “Twelve Days of Holiday Safety,” which outlines tips. Which tips do you think people need to pay more attention to? MZ: What we see is people don’t see those 12 days of holiday safety. Around the holidays people just kind of forget about safety.
19
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
The County Times
The County Times Wishes Our Readers Happy Holidays
Dessert to Please the Holiday Guests For many people, the best part of the holiday season is indulging in the food. Part of the reason so many New Year’s resolutions are geared toward weight loss is because of the extra pounds many people gain eating their favorite treats from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve. For families hosting the holidays this season, don’t forget the importance of a good dessert, such as the following recipe for “Murphy’s and Baileys Cheesecake” from Margaret M. Johnson’s “The Irish Pub Cookbook” (Chronicle Books).
Holiday Travel Tips That Make Cents
Murphy’s and Baileys Cheesecake Serves 10 to 12
Crumb Crust 1 cup crumbs from gingersnaps or Irish digestive biscuits, such as Carr’s or McVities’s brand (6 to 8 biscuits) 3 tablespoons unsalted Kerrygold Irish butter, melted Syrup 4 cups Murphy’s stout 2 cups dark brown sugar Filling 1 8-ounce package cream cheese at room temperature 1 cup confectioners’ sugar 2 cups heavy (whipping) cream 3/4 cup Baileys Irish Cream liqueur 1 1/4-ounce envelope unflavored gelatin 1 cup boiling water Fresh berries for garnish 1. To make the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 F. In a small bowl, combine the crumbs and melted butter. Press the crumb mixture onto the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch round springform pan. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Remove from the oven and let cool
on a wire rack. 2. To make the syrup: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the stout and brown sugar. Gently bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the mixture is thick and syrupy and coats the back of a spoon. Remove from the heat and let cool. 3. To make the filling: In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese and confectioners’ sugar and beat until smooth with an electric mixer. Add the cream and beat for 3 to 4 minutes, or until smooth. Stir in half the Murphy’s syrup and all of the Baileys. In a small bowl, combine the gelatin and boiling water. Stir until the gelatin is completely dissolved, about 5 minutes. Stir 2 tablespoons of the syrup into the gelatin, then stir the gelatin into the cream cheese mixture. Pour the filling over the biscuit crust. Refrigerate for 3 to 4 hours, or until firm. Set aside the remaining syrup at room temperature. 4. When ready to serve, release the sides of the pan and cut the cheesecake into wedges. Drizzle some of the remaining Murphy’s syrup around each slice and garnish with fresh berries.
Chestnuts Not Just for Roasting
Soup the Perfect Choice to Spread Holiday Spirit While Staying Warm This Seasn “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire ...” It’s a phrase no one can avoid come the holiday season, when radio stations devote countless hours to holiday songs. But chestnuts aren’t only for humming holiday tunes. In fact, chestnuts can be roasted over an open fire, providing a great source of protein and carbohydrates that also happen to be low in fat content. Chestnuts can also be served as a soup, which is the case with the following recipe for “Chestnut Soup with Fresh Ginger” from The Culinary Institute of America’s “Book of Soups” (LebharFriedman Books).
Chestnut Soup w/Fresh Ginger Makes 4 to 6 servings
10 ounces chestnuts 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 1 celery stalk, diced (about 1/2 cup) 1 carrot, diced (about 1/3 cup) 1 leek, white and light green parts, chopped (about 11/4 cups) 1/2 onion, diced (about 3/4 cup) 1 quart chicken broth 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger root 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice, or to taste 3/4 cup heavy cream, heated 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
Preheat the oven to 400 F or bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Score an X on the flat side of each chestnut with the tip of a paring knife. Roast them on a baking sheet in the oven or boil them, until the outer skins begins to curl. Peel away both the outer and inner layers of skin. Chestnuts are easiest to peel while still warm; if you are experiencing difficulties, re-warm the nuts by dropping them back into the simmering water or returning them to the warm oven. Reserve 4-6 whole chestnuts to garnish each bowl of soup, if desired. Chop the remaining chestnuts and set aside. Heat the butter in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the celery, carrot, leek, and onion. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is light golden brown, 8-10 minutes. Add the broth, chopped chestnuts, and ginger. Bring the soup to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until all of the ingredients are very tender, 35-40 minutes. Puree the soup and return to medium heat. Add the orange juice and simmer for 2 minutes. Add the cream to the soup. Season with salt, pepper and more orange juice, if desired. Serve in heated bowls, garnished with whole chestnuts, if using.
Much like gift giving and candy canes, travel has become synonymous with the holidays. This year, as many families prepare to cut back on holiday spending, travelers can still head off to visit longdistance relatives, or use the holidays to explore a new travel destination with their immediate family, without breaking the bank. Here are some simple penny- and stress-saving tricks to holiday travel: • Abandon the beaten path. When visiting family for the holidays, choose the road less traveled; take the scenic route. You’ll be less likely to hit heavy traffic, and traveling locally will allow you to look for hotels in the suburbs along the outskirts of major cities. Rates are often substantially lower in surrounding suburbs, particularly during tourist-heavy periods such as the holiday season. • Go free. With a little research you might be surprised to find how many free activities and simple pleasures your travel destination has to offer. Create a balanced travel itinerary by pairing more expensive tourist destinations with a picnic in a nearby park or taking in the local main street holiday decoration display, parade or festival. • Save your sanity. While you might be heading to visit family this holiday season, that doesn’t necessarily mean you want to stay with them. Staying in a nearby hotel will still afford you the chance to spend time with relatives, but it will also allow you to keep your ‘cool’ and survive the season. • Give yourself something you actually want. While you probably won’t be able to avoid getting another necktie or bathrobe this holiday season, you can exercise the power of choice when looking for a hotel. Get the most bang-for-your-buck by staying at an upscale extended stay hotel that provides more than just a bed. According to family travel expert Lisa McElroy, “The holidays can be such an expensive time, with gift-giving and holiday travel. If you can save money but stay in comfort, your family holiday trip will be one to remember. Consider an upscale extended-stay hotel, like Homewood Suites by Hilton, where you and the kids can make use of a full kitchen, plus spread out in separate bedrooms. If the hotel includes meals and offers free internet, even better -- you’ll be able to put your holiday dollars towards celebrating the season.” • Avoid peak dates and book early. Because many families know well in advance where they’ll be spending the holidays, booking early is a great way to save money. Many hotels offer advanced purchase rates that can save families who book early significant amounts of money. Some are sweetening the deal even more with special giveaways! When booking, keep in mind that most hotels also have rates that fluctuate during peak travel days. However, booking in advance can help mollify those rates. • Up the fun! Fun doesn’t have to end once families return to the hotel. Instead, find a facility that offers a pool for the kids to play in and fitness facility for adults to enjoy, unwind and fight off those extra holiday pounds. To learn more about upscale extended stay hotels or to book online today, visit www.suitetrip.com.
Looking Forward to Your Support in 2010
The County Times
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
20
Community
Sheriff’s Office Receives Flu Shots
We at the Wish Our Customers and Friends a Merry Christmas & a Peaceful New Year STUFFED HAMS STILL AVAILABLE THRU NEW YEAR
Earlier in December the St. Mary’s County Detention Center held an immunization clinic for correctional officers, civilian staff and inmates at the Detention Center, where seasonal flu vaccines were provided by the Center for Disease Control and administered by the detention center nurse. Personnel not available for that clinic had a second opportunity to be vaccinated on December 21st. The best way to decrease the chances of contracting seasonal flu is by getting a seasonal flu vaccination. The St. Mary’s Hospital, Submitted Photo in cooperation with the St. Mary’s Dr. Michael P. Somers gives Sheriff Timothy Cameron his seaHealth Department, Department sonal flu shot. of Public Safety and Emergency Office has with private and non-profit entities Medical System, collaborated to provide flu vaccinations to the St. Mary’s within our community.” A total of 75 flu vaccinations were proCounty Sheriff’s Office personnel. On December 21, 2009, Dr. Michael P. Somers, along with vided to Sheriff’s Office personnel, including volunteer nursing staff from St. Mary’s Hos- Sheriff Timothy Cameron, through both impital, came to the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s munization clinics. The flu is a contagious respiratory illness Office Headquarter to vaccinate sheriff’s office caused by influenza viruses and is spread from personnel. “I encourage anyone in public safety to be person to person through coughing or sneezing vaccinated to prevent the spread of influenza. by infected persons. The flu may also be spread Emergency responders face a greater risk of if an individual touches a surface infected with the flu virus and then touches his/her nose or contracting influenza” said Dr. Somers. Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron elaborated mouth. The virus can cause mild to severe illeven further, “Deputies respond to the needs of ness, and in some cases, lead to death. Accordthe public, including those individuals who are ing to the Centers for Disease Control, “each ill. I believe it is prudent for sheriff’s office per- year in the United States on average, 5% to 20% sonnel to be vaccinated against seasonal as well of the population gets the flu; on average, more as the H1N1 flu … This prevention program is than 200,000 people are hospitalized from fluanother fine example of the successful working related complications; and, about 36,000 people relationship the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s die from flu-related causes.”
Local Gymnasts Capture 5 Medals Each (10 Total) At Season’s Opening Competition
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On December 5th and 6th, Jordan Martin (age 13) and Delaney Madden (age 14), won 7 First Place medals and 3 Second Place medals (a clean sweep of a possible 10 medals!) in every gymnastic event at their skill level. The first competition of the season, the Mason Dixon Gymnastics League Meet, held in Frederick, Maryland, featured 4 events: Balance Beam, Floor Exercise, Uneven Parallel Bars and Vaulting - with a fifth award category for Best All-Around Gymnast. Jordan Martin, newly-promoted to the 13year-old age group, took First Place in Floor Exercise, Uneven Parallel Bars, Vaulting and Best Overall Gymnast for her skill level/age group. Her only Second Place medal came from the Balance Beam event according to her team coaches Kate Rowe and Heather Reed. Delaney Madden, oldest and most skilled of the St. Mary’s Mason Dixon Team, won First Place in Floor Exercise, Uneven Parallel Bars and Best Overall Gymnast. She received Second Place in Balance Beam and Vaulting Box, said Kate and Heather. In addition to the medals won by Jordan and Delaney, four other St. Mary’s team members received a total of one Third Place medal and six Ribbons for placing Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth in the four events. “No one else had six members on the same team place,” Heather says, smiling. “Every girl did very well; each was solid and showed confidence.” Jordan, Delaney and their team-mates practice three times a week at the St. Mary’s Gymnas-
tic Center in Lexington Park, Maryland. Run by the County’s Department of Recreation and Parks, the exhilaration and challenge of gymnastics is available to toddlers through high school and beyond. “We start everyone out just having fun,” Heather explains. “Then the ones that are interested progress into competition levels. The girls in our Mason Dixon Team concentrate on performing the skills that they need for their skill level - and we’ll teach them some higher skills as well when they are ready.” She pauses then adds, “Jordan sets a good example for the rest of our girls. She’s concentrating on being the best she can be and she’ll do whatever she has to in practice.” Proudly wearing her five medals, Jordan’s modest greeting to her family after the competition was, “I’m really tired.” Overall the Mason Dixon Competition gave this team an excellent start to the 2009-2010 Gymnastics Season. And when you consider the amazing quality of this little-known County-run gymnastics program, the skills of the coaches plus the sheer determination, exuberance and support among the young athletes themselves... ...The chances of an Olympic Gymnast emerging from this little-known program in St. Mary’s County appear quite good. For further information please contact the Gymnastic Center in Lexington Park at 301-862-1462.
21
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Santa Visits Bert’s
The County Times
Tots Get Toys During a Rough Economy By Andrea Shiell Staff Writer The St. Mary’s Teen Center at Chancellor’s Run Regional Park was overflowing with stacks of boxes, bags and piles of board games, video games, dolls and other items for this year’s Toys for Tots drive, which received families on Tuesday for their yearly giveaway. “I know we have two sheds [of toys] … but this year with the weather and our new coordinator … everything’s been kind of late this year,” said Gwen Bankins, who is spending her 13th year working with the program. Bankins said that this year’s drive had brought not only more volunteers and donations, but more applicants. “The economy has impacted people a lot … some people are in transition from homes, a lot of people have gotten evicted, a lot have moved in with relatives, and we have a lot of multi-family homes,” said Bankins. Photo By Andrea Shiell
Master Sgt. Steven Caldwell helps at Tuesday’s Toys for Tots drive. Santa Claus (Jim McGuire of La Plata) recently stopped by Bert’s 50s Diner in Mechanicsville, where he greeted customers and handed out toys to children from his sack of goodies. Shown here is Santa with restaurant manager Jessica Sloper.
L ibrary Items • Libraries to be closed for holidays All three libraries will be closed Thursday, Dec. 24, through Sunday, Dec. 27. The libraries will close at 5 p.m. on Dec. 31 and reopen on Sat, Jan. 2. The library’s Internet branch, www.stmalib.org, will be open so customers can manage their accounts, research using the free online databases and download audio books and movies. • New product provides more downloadable audio books Hundreds of new downloadable audio books are now available through NetLibrary from Recorded Books. These books are always available with no waiting lists. Click on “Downloadables” from www.stmalib.org and then “eBooks NetLibrary” to access. These titles cannot be downloaded in the library. The library does allow customers to download books from Maryland’s Digital eLibrary to their mp3 players or iPods using designated library computers. • Families can enjoy afternoon of gaming fun or movie Charlotte Hall is hosting two hours of gaming fun on Dec. 30 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. for families and cus-
tomers of all ages. Besides Wii, a variety of board games will be available to play. Snacks are provided. Leonardtown will show a Disney PG movie on Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. about cranky Carl Fredricksen who launches his house into the sky and heads off to South America unaware of an 8-year old stowaway. Snacks are provided • Children can build LEGO creations Children, ages 6-12 years old, can register to build LEGO creations at Charlotte Hall on Jan. 11 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Those attending should not bring their own LEGOs. This free program is being sponsored by the Mechanicsville Optimist Club. The library is seeking donations of new and used LEGOs for this program. • Library offers book discussions The public is invited to participate in the following book discussions: Alexander McCall Smith’s book, “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” on Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. at Charlotte Hall; Dexter Filkins’ book, “The Forever War” on Jan. 11 at 6 p.m. at Lexington Park; and Clyde Edgerton’s book, “The Bible Salesman” on Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. at Leonardtown.
“We have children who are aware of their parents’ situation and they’re just thankful for anything. They’re not asking for anything for Christmas, they’ll be happy if they get anything … but every child should have a Christmas.” More than 40 volunteers manned the Teen Center in shifts, working to move thousands of gifts from the back of the building to the front, where parents would come to select items later that day. Bankins said that she expected crews to still be helping until 1 a.m. “This community has been really generous, and I think that one of the most touching things is little kids emptying their pockets of change to help other kids,” said Bankins, adding that she had seen a lot of applications turned in by third parties this year. “Some families actually called in for families that would Photo By Andrea Shiell not submit their own names, because they felt that other people Rachel Dorsey, 15, joined other volunteers at the Teen were worse off than themselves, and I thought that was very Center at Chancellors Run Regional Park for Tuesday’s touching,” she said. “It’s about caring for your neighbors.” Toys for Tots drive.
Ihop’s Free pancake Giveaway Returns Feb 23, 2010
IHOP announced plans to serve millions of free pancakes again next year in celebration of National Pancake Day on Tuesday, February 23, 2010. Planned as a celebration of friends, family and community, IHOP hopes the program will raise $1.75 million for Children’s Miracle Network, an international non-profit organization that raises funds for children’s hospitals and other worthy local causes. 2010 will mark IHOP’s fifth year celebrating the national event and the company has set an ambitious goal to raise a cumulative $5 million for charity in the first five years of its free flapjack philanthropic effort. More than 1,400 IHOP restaurants throughout the United States will once again invite guests to enjoy a free short stack of IHOP’s signature buttermilk pancakes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on National Pancake Day. In return, IHOP guests are asked to donate what they would have paid for the free pancakes, or more, to the Children’s Miracle Network hospital in their community, or another designated local cause. “We are flipping for ‘five in five’ with our 2010 National Pancake Day campaign, and with our guests’ generous support, plan to reach our goal of $5 million in five years,” said Carolyn O’Keefe, IHOP’s senior vice presi-
dent, marketing. “IHOP’s franchisees and guests have raised more than $3.25 million to support Children’s Miracle Network and other local charities since we started our National Pancake Day in 2006. The day has become a tradition for families and friends who wish to enjoy great food and great service while helping out a great cause.” Children’s Miracle Network “Miracle Balloons” will be sold for $1 and $5 each and will be personalized and displayed at participating IHOP restaurants from February 1 through February 23, 2010. Miracle Balloon sales offer guests another way to show their support of Children’s Miracle Network and contribute to the National Pancake Day fundraising effort. In 2009, IHOP gave away three million pancakes and raised nearly $1.5 million in support of Children’s Miracle Network and other local charities, far exceeding its goal to raise $1 million. Since starting its National Pancake Day celebration in 2006, IHOP has given away more than 6.1 million free pancakes to benefit children’s charities –- that stacks up more than 53.5 miles high! For more information about IHOP’s National Pancake Day, or to learn more about Children’s Miracle Network and make an online donation, visit www.ihoppancakeday.com.
The County Times
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Wednesday, December 23 • Christmas Doll & Train Exhibit St. Clements Island Museum (Colton’s Point) – 12 noon • Poker Leader Board Challenge FOP-7 Lodge (Great Mills) – 7 p.m. • Special Olympics No Limit Hold’Em Tourney Bennett Building, 24930 Old Three Notch Rd (Hollywood) – 7 p.m.
Thursday, December 24 • Christmas Eve Service First Saints Community Church (Leonardtown) 10 a.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m., 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. 10 a.m. service will feature musical productions with children and teens. 4, 6, and 8 p.m. will be family candlelight services. Nursery care will be available. 10 p.m. service will be at St. George’s Island campus, 11 p.m. service is at St. Paul’s campus (next to St. Mary’s Hospital). • Christmas Eve Services / Choral Presentations Hollywood United Methodist Church (Hollywood) – 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. 6 p.m. service includes choral presentations with a choral candlelight service. 8 p.m. service is a special music service with duets and soloists. All are welcome.
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Friday, December 25 • Free Community Christmas Dinner Father Andrew White School (Leonardtown) – 2 p.m. Sponsored by St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Aloysius Church for anyone desiring a good meal and fellowship on Christmas Day. Menu includes turkey, ham and all the trimmings! Please join us. For more information call 301-481-2942.
Saturday, December 26 • Christmas Doll & Train Exhibit St. Clements Island Museum (Colton’s Point) – 12 noon
½ lb Steam Shrimp Dinner w/2 sides & Hush Puppies
• Christmas Eve at Grace and Peace Grace & Peace Presbyterian (California) – 7 p.m. Call 301-475-2111 for more information.
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• Holiday Exhibit at Piney Point Piney Point Lighthouse – 12 noon to 4 p.m. • Texas Hold’Em Tournament FOP-7 Lodge (Great Mills) – 2 p.m.
Monday, December 28 • Christmas Doll & Train Exhibit St. Clements Island Museum (Colton’s Point) – 12 noon • Holiday Exhibit at Piney Point Piney Point Lighthouse – 12 noon to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, December 29 • Special Olympics No Limit Hold’Em Tourney Bennett Building, 24930 Old Three Notch Rd (Hollywood) – 7 p.m. • Holiday Exhibit at Piney Point Piney Point Lighthouse – 12 noon to 4 p.m.
Wednesday, December 30 • 4-H Small Animal Workshop St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds (Leonardtown) – 8:30 a.m. Bring your Rabbit and/or Guinea Pigs in a cage with food and water. Learn how to groom you and your animal for a show. 9am to noon. Bring your own lunch and snacks from noon to 1p.m. Dog skill-a-thon and obedience demos for afternoon work shop. Free event, but you MUST call the 4-H office to register. 301 475-4478. • Holiday Exhibit at Piney Point Piney Point Lighthouse – 9 a.m. • Poker Leader Board Challenge FOP-7 Lodge (Great Mills) – 7 p.m. • Special Olympics No Limit Hold’Em Tourney Bennett Building, 24930 Old Three Notch Rd (Hollywood) – 7 p.m.
Jazabella and Jessamine
• Holiday Exhibit at Piney Point Piney Point Lighthouse – 12 noon to 4 p.m. The Piney Point Lighthouse Museum presents a holiday exhibit entitled “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” that captures five time periods of Christmases past at the lighthouse. The exhibit is located in the Keeper’s Quarters on the south campus and in the historic area. Museum staff and volunteers will also provide tours of the museum, maritime exhibit and lighthouse with climbs to the top. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for senior citizen and military personnel, $1.50 our names are Jazabella and Jessamine and we’re for children 6 to 18, and kids 5 and under are “Hi, two adorable pure bred female Miniature Pinschers. free. For more information, call the museum We’re six and five years old and, remember, the smaller at 301-994-1471 or log onto www.stmarysmd. breeds live a long time! We’re just full of love and kisses. We get along fine with other dogs of all sizes com/recreate/museums.
Sunday, December 27 • Christmas Doll & Train Exhibit St. Clements Island Museum (Colton’s Point) – 12 noon
and cats. Now, we’re looking for someone who can give us our furever home together so we won’t have to be separated. Our adoption fee is reduced. Are you that loving person we’ve been looking for? We’re both up to date on vaccinations, spayed, crate trained, house trained and identification micro chipped. For more information, please call SECOND HOPE RESCUE at 240-925-0628 or email lora@secondhoperescue. org. Please Adopt, Don’t Shop!”
23
The County Times
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
A Journey Through Time The
Chronicle
By Linda Reno Contributing Writer Bah humbug! It’s the Christmas season again. Perhaps we would enjoy it more if businesses and stores didn’t start with the commercials and displaying goods as early as September and then finish running it into the ground in January. We celebrate this holiday because of
the birth of Jesus Christ, yet that’s reduced to about an hour on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning when most of us flock to church for the first and only time of the year. No more on this subject--we’ll talk about the Christmas season at the Reno house. Outside decorating is no problem. Ten years ago, I bought a huge wreath to hang on the side of the house. The lights flash, spin, and are delightful to watch. The problem? My husband Ronnie put the wreath up but we can’t get him to take it down. It did come down briefly two years ago when we put new siding on the house, but first we had to wait for Mama
bird to hatch her eggs. We had a picnic for the event and the whole family gave him a round of applause as he ascended the ladder. Until I met Ronnie, I was used to a “real” Christmas tree. There’s nothing like the smell of a freshly cut pine or cedar tree. I still get an odor, but only if plastic counts. Gift giving? I want to be surprised, but that’s not happening. Each year about noon on Christmas Eve I’m told “if you want anything for Christmas, you’d better give me a list.” I refuse, hoping for a miracle. Last year, I caved and said “oh, just give me some pajamas.” That’s exactly what I got, in a dazzling array of purple and green. I absolutely refuse to accept a coat. According to Ronnie’s ex (who I like very much and refer to as my “wife-in-law”) he bought her a coat at Morton’s at midnight on Christmas Eve—every Christmas Eve. It’s hard to get angry with him because he does carefully
wrap the gifts and on Christmas morning he looks like a kid in a candy store. He waits in gleeful anticipation until I open my present from him to see the look of surprise on my face. Now I did make the list, didn’t I? I’d be happy to simply have the gift of a parking space in our six-car garage, but that’s reserved for two garden tractors, one riding lawn mower, his four vehicles, and two boats (one of which doesn’t know what a river is). Traditional Christmas dinners are out. He doesn’t care for turkey, but loves honey-baked ham. The first time I brought one home he told me it was so good that he was going to hang the bone from his rearview mirror so he could gnaw on it while driving down the road. The real meaning of the Christmas season is peace, harmony, love, and I’ll add laughter. You can’t buy it, but it’s worth a fortune.
Merry Christmas!
Wanderings Book Review of an Aimless
d
Min
Snow-Devil Fever By Shelby Oppermann Contributing Writer Who was it that was dreaming of a white Christmas?! Are you happy now? No, it really is beautiful. I thought we had 16 inches of snow, and then when I went out and measured the accumulated snow on the picnic table, I was surprised to find it was only 12 inches. It sure looked higher to us looking down from the kitchen window. Also, I didn’t get out to the picnic table until today (Sunday) until 2:00 p.m. My husband said some of the snow melted with all that tropical sun today. Earlier, right before darkness closed in, my husband asked if I wanted to go out in the snow and make “snow devils” instead of “snow angels”. I asked how one told the difference. He said instead of just falling serenely back in the snow, you thrash your arms about while falling, and once in the snow you continue thrashing arms and legs about.” I was picturing John Belushi doing the gator to the song, “Shout” in Animal House. I have been known to do the gator at weddings – granted it is harder to do in a dress, than a toga. Come to think of it, maybe it isn’t. But anyway, I said, ”No.” You probably don’t live with a husband who gets stir-crazy when snowbound. He suddenly has all this nervous energy, and becomes this pre-adolescent boy who likes to find ways to tease and aggravate you. Yes, I think I knew this when I married him. Thank goodness being snowbound doesn’t last forever. It’s a good thing we don’t live in Alaska – we would be a segment on “48 Hours”: “Man found after two months, frozen in snow devil position”. A lady at Chaptico Market said with a wry smile, “I bet I know what you’ll be writing about this week”. She was right. I didn’t need to make snow devils, because, I had actually just come in from playing a rousing game of “find the yellow tennis ball in the snow” with Tidbit. I would
try to throw it somewhere near the paths we had made in the front yard. And Tidbit would leap in great bounding deer leaps trying to find it. She would look to me with her questioning eyes and I would point to where the ball had landed. I was laughing so hard at her that I didn’t even notice the cold. That was a good thing since my jacket was a sweatshirt, and I had no gloves on. At least for the first hour I am out in the snow, I feel warm. It always feels like the earth has suddenly become a large cocoon when a snowfall occurs. Once tidbit would find the ball she would use her nose or paws to keep it rolling in the snow. She’d look up at me with her muzzle and eyes covered in snow and then go back to pawing the ball. After a minute she’d bring it back to me, covered in slobbery ice to throw it again. Sometimes I would have trouble seeing where the ball plopped too, and I would have to walk over to the area and look for the yellow glow, no, not that kind of yellow glow. Though, I suppose I should have been careful as to where I was reaching my hand. I know all the kids are excited at the prospect of not having school tomorrow, I’m just hoping on getting out of our driveway again to open my shop. Our driveway slopes downward from the street, and there is always the possibility that the snowplow did a final run and piled another few feet up at the end. I’ll have to shovel, my husband isn’t supposed to, but he has done probably more than he should over the last two days. I told him he wasn’t allowed, so he got around that by running my van up and down the driveway clearing a way out. Well, it did keep my sweet snow devil occupied for quite a long time. I wish all of you a happy, and merry Christmas, Shelby Please send comments or ideas to: shelbys.wanderings@yahoo.com.
“Citizen Mitten” by William Voedisch
c.2009, East Wind Ink
$14.95 / $15.95 Canada
168 pages
By Terri Schlichenmeyer Contributing Writer You weren’t looking. Seriously, you weren’t. You didn’t need another pet. The last one was gone, you put away the toys, and you were making plans for a little travel. Can’t do that with a pet. But the Classifieds fell open and though you weren’t looking (seriously!), you saw something in the “giveaways”. So much for that: the pet you weren’t looking for is now lying at your feet. If you’ve ever loved an animal, you know they have a way of staying in your heart long after they’re gone. In the book “Citizen Mitten” by William Voedisch, you’ll read about a man and his cat. Despite that his mother was asthmatic and allergic, William Voedisch says that he grew up with a succession of pets over the years. But when his father was recovering from a heart attack, a special cat became catalyst for Voedisch’s love of felines. Many years later, divorced, and living in Minneapolis, Voedisch was working hard and trying to woo a co-worker. It was she who found the stray they named Mitten and, to avoid roommate wars, he brought the cat home. Though beloved (and certainly indulged), Mitten was a troublemaker. Voedisch says that he was a boxer, and would beat up any dog he didn’t like. Mitten’s love of fish once got him in trouble and into a freezer (Voedisch performed a middle-of-the-night rescue), and Mitten was prone to running away when he didn’t like something. He was fond of “nursing” Voedisch, and the cat never met ductwork he didn’t like. Still, despite that he could be a handful, Mitten was Voedisch’s cat, completely. But when we bring home a puppy or kitten, we assume responsibility for its care and its dignified death. And, eventually, Mitten fell sick… The basic premise of “Citizen Mitten” is cute. Author William Voedisch is folksy and his tone is conversational, which makes reading this book somewhat like sitting down for an evening with a fel-
low animal lover. The bad news is that this story rattles all over the place and it’s not just about a cat called Mitten. Voedisch includes dozens of anecdotes about several dogs, a horse, other cats, rats, and pets belonging to friends; as well as yarns about protein drinks, poop, and old radio, many of which included variations of the words “goof” and “nut”. All that made me wonder why the book was called “Citizen Mitten” in the first place. What was really irritating to me, though, was Voedisch’s use of ever-changing, multiple nicknames. Though he includes a “Cast of Characters”, I spent way too much time attempting to understand who he was talking about on any given page. I’m still trying to figure out the secret identity of the individual named in the last line of this book. I think animal lovers (particularly Cat People) who read “Citizen Mitten” and can overlook New-Writer-itis will be rewarded with a sweetly unpretentious tale of a man and his family, four-footed and otherwise. But if you demand slick, tight reading, look elsewhere.
The County Times
Wednesday, December 23 • Open Blues Jam Beach Cove (Chesapeake Beach) – 8 p.m.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
24
The County Times is always looking for more local talent to feature! To submit art or entertainment announcements, or band information for our entertainment section, e-mail andreashiell@countytimes.net.
• Bent Nickel Anderson’s Bar (Avenue) – 8:30 p.m.
• Open Mic Night Hula’s Bungalow (California) – 8 p.m.
Thursday, December 24 • Big Sale @ Big Dogs Big Dogs Paradise (Mechanicsville) – 10 a.m. (all day)
• Roadhouse Band Drift Away Bar & Grill (Cobb Island) – 9 p.m.*
• DJ Charlie Thompson Toot’s Bar (Hollywood) – 7 p.m. • Karaoke “On Demand” Cadillac Jack’s (Lexington Park) – 9 p.m.
By Andrea Shiell Staff Writer
• Absinthe Apehanger’s Bar (Bel Alton) – 9 p.m.
Friday, December 25 • Christmas Night Party with Bob (the band) Hula’s Bungalow (California) – 9 p.m.
Saturday, December 26 • Dave & Kevin Catamaran’s (Solomons) – 6 p.m. • Fair Warning Irish Pub Band DB McMillan’s (California) – 6 p.m.
• The Changing Scene Blue Dog Saloon (Port Tobacco) – 9 p.m.* • DJ Steadyrockin’ Cadillac Jack’s (Lexington Park) – 9 p.m. • HydraFX Hotel Charles (Hughesville) – 9 p.m.
Sunday, December 27 • Customer Appreciation Day Fat Boys Country Store (Leonardtown) – 12 noon
• Karaoke with DJ Tommy T & DJ T Applebee’s (California) – 9 p.m.
• Sasparilla Band Vera’s White Sands Beach Club (Lusby) – 2 p.m.
• Lords of Rosedale Memories (Waldorf) – 9 p.m.*
• Dan’s Band Toot’s Bar (Hollywood) – 3 p.m.
Monday, December 28 (No events scheduled.)
Tuesday, December 29 • Fair Warning Irish Pub Band DB McMillan’s (California) – 6 p.m. • DJ Blacky Lexington Lounge (Lexington Park) – 7 p.m. • DJ Charlie Thompson Toot’s Bar (Hollywood) – 7 p.m. • DJ Harry Big Dogs Paradise (Mechanicsville) – 8 p.m. • DJ Night w/ Michelle Vera’s White Sands Beach Club (Lusby) – 8 p.m. • Satin Doll Trio Westlawn Inn (North Beach) – 8 p.m.*
What’s
For family and community events, see our calendar in the community section on page 21.
• Rich Mascari Debbie’s Bar & Grill (La Plata) – 9 p.m.*
• Damion Wolfe Ruddy Duck Brewery (Solomons) – 7 p.m.
Wednesday, December 30 • Karaoke w/ DJ Harry Big Dogs Paradise (Mechanicsville) – 7:30 p.m. • Open Blues Jam Beach Cove (Chesapeake Beach) – 8 p.m.
*Call to confirm Email events to andreashiell@countytimes.net. Deadline for submissions is Monday at 5 p.m.
n O g n i Go
• Karaoke with Lori and Band in a Box Quade’s Store (Bushwood) – 8 p.m.
A Grinch’s Guide to Christmas Movies
In Entertainment
All right, I admit it. I am a bit of a cynic, and some may even call me a grinch for all my bah-humbugs, but at heart I relish the holiday season for its warmth and charm, even as I’m trudging through Wal-Mart and braving long lines to finish my Christmas shopping. When all is said and done, Christmas remains my favorite holiday. It’s too bad that Christmas movies can’t always live up to the spirit of the holiday itself, though most try valiantly to capture it. And as surely as we’ll all be watching Christmas movie marathons over the next few days, there will be ample opportunities to reflect on Hollywood’s take on the season. So that is why, for the first time in my career as a critic, I’m compiling a list of my own favorite Christmas films. 5. Scrooged (1988) – Director Richard Donner and star Bill Murray turned the Dickens classic “Christmas Carol” upside down with this inventive retelling about a miserly television executive who gets haunted by three obnoxious spirits on Christmas Eve, all told with a decidedly 80s flair. 4. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) Dead bats, shrunken heads, and ghoulish strings of garland makes for a pretty backwards take on the holiday, as Tim Burton’s stop-animation cult classic tells the story of Jack Skellington, the king of Halloweentown, who discovers Christmas Town and decides to hijack the holiday without fully grasping the concept. 3. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) I look on this movie as a cheesy reminder that holiday clichés can actually be fun, following the John Hughes saga of the Griswald family’s disastrous Christmas holiday, starring Chevy Chase, Beverley D’Angelo and a very frosty-looking Juliette Lewis. 2. Miracle on 34th Street (1947) AND It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) Of course there’s a place on my list for the classics, and mood more than anything will decide which of these is better during any given season, “Miracle” being a 3-time Oscar winner about a young lawyer who decides to defend a man claiming to be Santa Claus from being institutionalized, and “Wonderful Life,” a moving take on a man who transcends his holiday depression. Both deserve their spot near the top. 1. A Christmas Story (1983) There’s a reason that TBS airs a 24-hour “Christmas Story marathon” every year, because it’s impossible not to relate to young Ralphie as he schemes to convince his parents, teachers, and Santa that an “official Red Ryder carbine-action two-hundred-shot range model air rifle” is absolutely essential to his holiday happiness. This is a story that touches on all the happiness and horror of the holidays, and does it with hilarity and timeless charm.
25
The County Times
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Classifieds
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.
Real Estate Beautiful mid-level condo (no stairs) for sale in the quiet White Birch neigborhood of Wildwood, centrally located, close to shopping, schools, and more. Freshly painted, balcony, open kitchen with new appliances (refrigerator, smooth-top stove, washer/ dryer). Priced below market value, great opportunity to own your own home. Please give us a call to take a look. 301-373-5732. Price: $138,000.
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Help Wanted Local Oral Surgery practice in need of a team player to join their group. Must have knowledge of medical & dental billing/collection practices. Ability to operate a computer and basic office equipment. Skilled in answering a telephone in a pleasant, helpful manner. Ability to read, understand, and follow both written and oral instructions. Must be well organized and detailoriented with ability to multi-task. Please email resume or fax to 301-862-3332, Attn:Practice Administrator.
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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.
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The County Times
1. Banishes 5. Singer Mama ____ 9. S_____: looked fixedly 14. About organ of hearing 15. Ribosomal ribonucleic acid 16. African antelope 17. Filled chocolate cookie 18. Sparks 19. Domestic helps 20. Michaelangelo ceiling 23. Lingo or slang 24. Before 25. Make lacework 26. South American country 31. Site of chemical spill 35. Gourd instrument 36. Fail to win 37. Copycats 38. In a way, removes 41. Individualists 43. British order of honor member 45. P___: verse composition 46. Road coating 47. Prohibitions 51. Michaelangelo fresco 55. One who cuts
Last Week’s Puzzles Solutions
ner
KiddKioer
CLUES ACROSS
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
57. Ex ruler of Iran 58. 2nd husband of Gudrun 59. Condemnation 60. British General 61. Make a portrait of 62. Alleviated 63. Affirmatives 64. Carangid fishes
CLUES DOWN
1. Scornful sounds 2. Aweigh 3. East German city 4. Ivanhoe author 5. About the skull 6. Put in jail 7. 60’s college Civil Rights group 8. Window parts 9. Poster paints 10. Winglike structures 11. Train track 12. Finale 13. Tooth caregiver 21. 9th Greek letter 22. Starch from the cuckoopint
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root 27. 1st Islamic republic 28. Back side of the neck 29. Maple genus 30. Catholic service 31. Bulla 32. Israeli dance 33. ex-Miami quarterback Bernie K____ 34. Mexican coin 39. Crossed the threshold 40. Ziplock closure 41. Dog tethers 42. S. American Pokeweed 44. Crummy 45. Canadian capital 48. Opaque gems 49. Oculus 50. Civil rights city in Alabama 51. ____ the night before Christmas 52. ____d: shortened clothing 53. Nailed to a horse’s hoof 54. The hard outer layer of a fruit 55. One point E of due S 56. Pie ___ mode
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Wednesday, December 23, 2009
The County Times
The m o
Tues., Dec 29
Wed., Dec 30
Southern Maryland Holiday Basketball Tournament at Great Mills
Southern Maryland Holiday Basketball Tournament at Great Mills
Girls Leonardtown vs. Chopticon, 3 p.m. La Plata vs. Great Mills, 6 p.m. Boys Chopticon vs. Leonardtown, 4:30 p.m. Walter Johnson vs. Great Mills, 7:30 p.m.
Girls’ Consolation Game, 2 p.m. Boys’ Consolation Game, 3:30 p.m. Girls’ Championship Game, 5 p.m. Boys’ Championship Game, 6:30 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 16
Thurs., Dec. 17
Boys’ Basketball Patuxent 53, Chopticon 50 Northern 53, Great Mills 45 Leonardtown 50, Huntingtown 48
Wrestling Leonardtown 68, McDonough 3
Girls’ Basketball Chopticon 43, Patuxent 27 Great Mills 44, Northern 42 Huntingtown 48, Leonardtown 29 Swimming Boys Leonardtown 199, Thomas Stone 69 Leonardtown 162, La Plata 118 Girls Leonardtown 182, Thomas Stone 98 Leonardtown 182, La Plata 97
Fri., Dec. 18 Boys’ Basketball Northern 56, Chopticon 39 Great Mills 54, Leonardtown 51 Girls’ Basketball Chopticon 50, Northern 28 Great Mills 34, Leonardtown 22 Ice Hockey Leonardtown 14, Thomas Stone 4 Northern 9, St. Mary’s Ryken 0 Swimming Boys Great Mills 131, Chopticon 130 Girls Chopticon 155, Great Mills 103
St. Mary’s County Recreation and Parks Volleyball Standings Women’s League Yellow bus 21-3 Spalding consulting 17-4 R & S Bus Service 18-6 Safe Sets 17- 7 Pine Brooke 12-12 Easy Wash 11-13 Ritas Of solomons 7-17 NBE 4-20 ABC Liquors 1-26
Co-Ed Volleyball Competitive League OldeTown Pub 20-7 Trading Post 18-9 Ark N Spark 21-9 Yatch Services 17- 13 Spikers 4-23 Chili Peppers 4-23
Co-Ed Volleyball Recreational League Serves You right 26-4 Team Dumpy 22-8 Chespeake custom 22-8 Center For Cosmetic Surgery 20-10 Dicks diggers 20-10 St. MAry’s Auto 20-10 Dig this 19-11 Spence electrical 14- 16 Block party 10-20 Dirty Half Dozen 9-21 Cbl 8- 22 Well Pet 8-22 Geezer world 8-22 Grid iron grill 4- 26
Fr
12/29-30/09
SPORTS DESK
Snowstorms Were Meant For Play By Chris Stevens Staff Writer
As I spent most of this recent snowstorm weekend indoors, I looked out my window a couple of times to see if there were any kids playing football, I was seriously disappointed to see no pigskins were tossed around nor were there any youngsters, weighed down by snow gear scrambling around the area in pursuit of said ball. Stuff happens and times change I supposed. This recent storm reminded me of days gone by where my friends and I drove our parents crazy until they kicked us out of the house in full gear and told us not to come back until the sun went down. Once properly layered, we’d make our way to the nearest park and play some of the strangest games of football known to man. One of my favorite rules we had was the thrown punt rule. That’s what I’m going to call it, because we never had an official name for it other than “Spot!” To explain this properly, when it was fourth down and the situation usually called for a long pass, the quarterback would call out “spot,” so in case the pass fell incomplete, the other team would take over wherever the ball fell. And first downs were marked either by two ways – 10 steps beyond the line of scrimmage (of course in the snow, this led to many an argument over who’s footprints were the truest) or two pass completions. Along with playing in a playground which stretch across two city blocks out-of-bounds going from fence to fence made for some exciting, long, tedious…TIR I NG plays every once in a
while, especially on interceptions and fumble recoveries. Even with these crazy rules and boundaries in place, it was nothing for us to play five to six games a day in the snow, with the scores being somewhere in the 49-42, 63-56 neighborhood. How did we end up with those scores? Every touchdown was worth seven points. No kickers in sandlot football, of course. As there was nothing else to do BUT look out of the window this weekend, I had a grand old time doing just that and remembering a simpler time. A time where a snow day still meant no work to be done and plenty of fun to be had, and there were no cars to be dug out of random parking spaces
(thanks to the good maintenance guys at Cherry Cove who got me out Monday morning). Hopefully everyone found the time to be a kid again for one day. After all, snow around here isn’t exactly a regular occurrence.
Holiday Well-Wishes Of course I couldn’t end the last Sports Desk of 2009 without wishing all of the readers of the County Times a safe and happy holiday season as well as a prosperous new year. See you all in 2010! Comments, questions, complaints? Send ‘em all to Chris at chrisstevens@countytimes.net.
The County Times
Sperbeck Jacksonville-Bound
By Chris Stevens Staff Writer
St. Mary’s Ryken senior Angela Sperbeck recently achieved two dreams with one fell swoop. Aside from playing NCAA Division I lacrosse at Jacksonville University, she will get to spend the next four years a few minutes away from the beach. However, the D-I dream is the most important of them all for Spurbeck, who signed an academic and athletic scholarship to attend school at the Florida college, who will be fielding its first varsity team this spring. “It feels amazing to know that I accomplished my dream,” Sperbeck said. “I knew this was the right school for me.” Sperbeck’s success comes as no surprise to Ryken head coach Irene Tsapos-Dean, who considers Angela as an assistant coach on the field. “She’s a team player, very dedicated to improving her game and everyone else’s,” Tsapos-Dean said. “She’s easy to coach, and I am so proud of her. [Her going to Jackson-
ville] is fantastic.” The Dolphins, members of the Atlantic Sun Conference, will have one year of varsity play under their belts by the time Sperbeck touches down in Florida, and she’s looking forward to helping the team and program grow as the years go by. “It will definitely be interesting to be on the ground floor,” she says. “It might be rough, but it will be fun to be a part of it. I want to help build the team up.” Along with the excitement of playing D-I lacrosse for the first such program in the state of Florida, location also played a big part in Sperbeck’s decision. “The beach is just 20 minutes away,” she said with a smile.” With a lot of colleges (Denver, Oregon and UC-Berkley to name a few) to choose from, Sperbeck’s main fear was being sure that the choice she made was a good one. “The toughest part was worrying if I was going to make the wrong choice,” she said. “But I found out at summer camp that this is where I wanted to go.” chrisstevens@countytimes.net
Photo By Chris Stevens
Angela Sperbeck proudly signs her letter of intent to play lacrosse at Jacksonville University.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
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Leonardtown’s Arrington and Ferrera Sign on for College By Chris Stevens Staff Writer Now, Taelar Errington and Christina Ferrera can relax. Both girls, rising seniors on the Leonardtown girls’ lacrosse team, will be able to focus on their senior seasons as they have signed letters of intent to play lacrosse in college, Errington headed to the University of Maryland – Baltimore County and Ferrera heading Shepherd University in West Virginia. “It’s such a huge decision, where you’re going to be for the next four years of your life,” Errington said.
“I know it’s going to be different,” she said “I’m ready to make the transition.” Ferrera meanwhile couldn’t resist the opportunity to get in on the ground floor at Shepherd, who will play its first season of women’s varsity lacrosse in the spring. “It’s a new team, so they’re still learning and I’m excited,” said Ferrera, who plans to major in athletic training. She was also considering High Point, Frostburg and Phifer University before deciding on Shepherd, after meeting with new head coach Tammy Butler, who previously coached women’s lacrosse at St. Mary’s College for six seasons. “She was amazing,” Ferrera said. “I can tell she was going to be my second mom.” Both athletes will look back on their time at Leonardtown with fond memories of sports and friendships, memories they plan to carry with them to the next level. “Sports in general has been my favorite part of high school,” Errington admits. “I love getting out there and playing with my best friends.” Photo By Chris Stevens
chrisstevens@countytimes.net
Christina Ferrera signs her letter of intent to attend Shepherd University.
“It’s a weight off of my shoulders.” “It took a lot of college visits,” Ferrera added. “It took a lot of deciding, figuring out what was going to be good for me.” Errington was sold on UMBC after a visit with new head coach Kelly Berger that eased her fears about the coaching change. “I had a feeling it was the right place, I’m very excited about where she’s going to take the program,” she said. Errington was also looking at Towson, William & Mary, American and Ohio State before accepting an athletic and academic scholarship to UMBC. Errington, who plans to major in Kinesiology, says that she’s ready for the Photo By Chris Stevens challenge of moving from high school Accompanied by her parents and Leonardtown staff, Taelar Errington to college both on and off the field. signs her letter of intent to play lacrosse at the University of Maryland – Baltimore County.
Ravens Look Ahead to Steelers After Stopping Bears
By DAVID GINSBURG AP Sports Writer
BALTIMORE (AP) – The Baltimore Ravens are already in playoff mode, even though the postseason doesn’t begin until the second week in January. Joe Flacco threw a career-high four touchdown passes, and the Ravens solidified their grasp on the sixth and final AFC playoff spot Sunday with a 31-7 win over the bumbling Chicago Bears. Flacco acknowledged he was checking out the scoreboard during the game, and the crowd hadn’t finished filing out of the stadium before coach John Harbaugh started looking ahead toward this Sunday’s game against the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers.
“We’re going to come out with a new challenge against our archrivals next week at their place,” Harbaugh said. “They’ll be excited to play us, and we’ll be excited to play them.” The Ravens (8-6) had alternatingly won and lost for seven straight weeks, but now – after beating Detroit 48-3 last Sunday – they have their first winning streak since September. The timing couldn’t be better, given that the game against the Steelers will go a long way toward determining if Baltimore can get back to the postseason. “We just took care of business early today, and you know who we have next week,” running back Ray Rice said. “Technically, the playoffs haven’t started yet. But they’ve definitely started for us. We just need to keep going, keep building from here.”
In thrashing the Bears, the Ravens led 14-0 after 13 minutes and 31-7 after three quarters. The victory improved their record against teams currently with losing records to 6-0. “The game looked like one team was playing for something and the other one really wasn’t,”Bears coach Lovie Smith said. Jay Cutler threw three interceptions, upping his NFL-high total to 25, and backup Caleb Hanie was also picked off. Chicago (59) also lost two fumbles. Baltimore scored 24 points off turnovers. “That’s what great teams do,” said Ravens cornerback Domonique Foxworth, who had two interceptions. “Good teams get turnovers. Great teams convert them.” Chicago’s only score came on a 49-yard
punt return by Earl Bennett. “Obviously, the last two games we’ve played well,” said Ravens tight end Todd Heap, who caught two TD passes. “Defense made some big plays for us today and we were able to capitalize. We’ve talked about it over the past few weeks, starting faster. You can talk about it all you want, but the biggest thing is you have to do it.” Flacco went 21 for 29 for 234 yards. The second-year quarterback also had time to notice that two teams chasing the Ravens – Miami and the New York Jets – lost. “We need to win games anyway, but I’m not going to lie,” Flacco said. “I saw the scores.” Cutler went 10 for 27 for 94 yards. The Bears have lost six of seven overall and five straight on the road.
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Wednesday, December 23, 2009
The County Times
Capital Punishment
Sp rts
By Joseph White AP Sports Writer
The Giants’ Hakeem Nicks runs heads down field as the Redskins’ Kareem Moore looks on.
A Redskins cheerleader dances during halftime of the Giants 45-12 win over the Redskins Monday night.
Photo By Frank Marquart
Photo By Frank Marquart
LANDOVER (AP)—This was how the New York Giants played when they were starting 5-0, back when they looked like a solid Super Bowl contender. The dominant version of the Giants showed itself again Monday night, only this time as a desperate team clinging to its playoff hopes. The Giants controlled every facet of the game in a 45-12 rout that wasn’t as close as even that margin of victory would indicate, embarrassing a Washington Redskins coach and team that failed miserably in an attempt to make a good first impression for its new general manager. “We felt we can play at that caliber that we were playing at the beginning of the year,” said Ahmad Bradshaw, who ran for two first-half touchdowns. “We came out fired up. This was a must-win. I told everybody before we went out: ‘I need the whole team to come with us.’ And that’s how we played – together.” The Giants (8-6) don’t control their destiny, but they moved one game behind Dallas and Green Bay in the race for wild-card spots with two weeks remaining in the regular season. A loss would have left New York with only the faintest of postseason hopes. “We were the team that had more at stake, obviously – and played that way,” New York coach Tom Coughlin said. “We always talk about being the team that demonstrates greater purpose. And we did.” In theory, the Redskins (4-10) should have had a great purpose—a desire to put on a good show for Bruce Allen, hired on Thursday in a major front office shake-up. Instead, they did a good job Photo By Frank Marquart of showing Allen Jason Campbell passed for 192 yards, but threw two interthat maybe every- ceptions as the Giants rolled to a 45-12 win over the Redone ought to be skins Monday night. fired. “You’ve got a new boss to impress,” cornerback DeAngelo Hall said. “This is an audition. These last couple of games is an audition. Bruce Allen pretty much got a head start on evaluating talent. If he looks at what he saw today, he’ll scrap this whole thing.” Redskins coach Jim Zorn didn’t do much to help whatever slim chances he had of returning next season. Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth(notes) sounded ready to cast a vote for someone else. “I don’t think really this team is that bad. The players ain’t that bad,” said Haynesworth, who drew a personal foul for throwing a haymaker at Brandon Jacobs in the fourth quarter. “The score, the record, [they] say that we’re horrible, that we don’t know how to play football. But I’ve been around these guys a lot and I think they know how to play football. I think we’re just all going in different directions, and we need somebody to lead us in the right direction.” The Giants marched downfield at will to take a 24-0 halftime lead. At one point in the second quarter, they held a 226 to minus-2 advantage in total yards, a 16-0 dominance in first downs, and the time of possession gap was roughly 21 minutes to 4 1/2 . The Redskins went three-and-out on their first three possessions, finally got a first down on the fourth, then tried to pull a ridiculous-looking fake field goal on the fifth—a play that produced a Giants interception to end the half. Even when the Redskins scored their first touchdown—with the game already out of reach in the third quarter—the Giants blocked the extra point. “We ascended tonight,” Coughlin said, “and we have to continue to do that.”
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The County Times
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
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Barker and Harris Stand Tall as Great Mills Edges Leonardtown
By Chris Stevens Staff Writer GREAT MILLS – When you have a 6-foot-6 center and a 6-foot-5 forward under the basket, more often than not coaches will a find a way to get them the ball. Seniors Kamaron Barker and Mykel Harris were the beneficiaries of an intense focus on the paint, scoring 17 and 13 points respectively to lift Great Mills to a 54-51 victory over county rival Leonardtown Friday night. “We really focused on getting the ball inside and we did a really good job of that,” said head coach Frank Peck. “Mykel and Kamaron were very active tonight.” “It was good to come out and get a win in this type of
atmosphere,” Harris said. “It was a total team effort.” In the loss, Leonardtown first-year head coach Jamie Cospey found no fault with his team’s effort, despite giving up a serious height advantage to Great Mills. “I’m very proud of my guys, Great Mills just jumped up on us too early,” he said. The Hornets, leading 13-12 after the first quarter, went on a 13-0 run, capped by a Josh Williams runner in the lane to stretch their lead to 26-12. Leonardtown, keyed by senior forward Todderick Daniels (who led all scorers with 20 points) coming off the bench, closed the second quarter with a 9-2 spurt of their own to get within eight points (29-21) at the half. While Harris took care of the scoring load in the early going, Barker scored seven fourth-quarter points to keep Great Mills (3-1 overall, 0-1 in Southern Maryland Athletic Conference play) ahead to stay. “This was a big game, it was a statement not just for SMAC, but county-wise,” said Barker. “I think we all did well in using our strength.” Credit was also given to the Hornet defense for playing a major role in the victory, limiting the Raiders’ chances offensively. “We issued a challenge to the guys, and that was to hold Leonardtown to four points in the first four minutes of the third quarter,” Peck explained. “I thought it was a tremendous effort for four quarters, especially on the defensive end. That was the key tonight.” For Copsey, he felt that words weren’t necessary as far as motivating the troops to move beyond this tough setback. “If you’re a competitor, you’ve got to bounce back,” he said. “These guys want to succeed, so I don’t have to say anything.” Photo By Karl Cin
chrisstevens@countytimes.net
Photo By Karl Cin
Hornet Girls Win Second Straight By Chris Stevens Staff Writer It wasn’t a pretty win by any stretch of the imagination, but Brian Weisner will take it. Led by senior guard Johnita Baker’s nine points, the Great Mills girls’ basketball team won their second straight game, a 34-22 victory over county rival Leonardtown Friday night that may have been low-scoring, but saw plenty of positives for the Hornets’ head coach. “We did a lot of things well, which means we’re showing improvement,” Weisner said after the Hornets evened their record at 3-3 overall and 1-1 in Southern Maryland Ath-
letic Conference games. “We were working as a unit and not five individuals.” The Hornets jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the game’s first few minutes, but the Raiders (1-4 overall, 1-3 in SMAC) closed the first quarter on a 7-2 run to get within five. However, Great Mills held firm for the win, two days after a pulsating 44-42 win at Northern that saw them rally from a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter. “I think that game, trailing by 11 and coming back to win, was a huge confidence builder,” Weisner said. “Winning this game was also a step in the right direction.” Tylita Butler and Ashia Joseph also contributed six points each for Great Mills, while Heather Wood, Dani
McLaughlin and Erin Mallory led Leonardtown with six points as well. Both teams, along with Chopticon will have a weeklong Christmas break, then return to action Tuesday at the annual Southern Maryland Holiday Tournament, hosted by Great Mills this year. Weisner plans to have his girls ready for battle. “We’re going to have to come back into practice and not have a drop off,” he said. “We can’t allow ourselves to take steps backward because we had a break.” chrisstevens@countytimes.net
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Wednesday, December 23, 2009
The County Times
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Bonnel’s Big Night Keys Raider Romp Over Thomas Stone By Chris Stevens Staff Writer WALDORF – With a two-week break in between games, the Leonardtown ice hockey team wanted to use its MSHL Southern Division with Thomas Stone as a confidence booster going into the new year. Mission Accomplished. Led by Gordy Bonnel and Evan Wright’s four-goal outbursts, the Raiders rolled to a 144 victory over Stone Friday night at Capital Clubhouse, their second straight win against the Cougars in as many games. “It’s big for the newer players because now they’re not afraid to get hit or take a shot,” said Bonnel, who was one of five Raider players to find the net Friday night. “We’re more confident now.” “I liked the way my kids played, they did what I asked them to do,” said head coach Rob Barthelmes. “Not really much else I can say.”
Photo By Chris Stevens
Bonnel and Charlie Yates (who also notched a hat trick with three goals) wasted little time putting the Raiders (2-1-1 on the season) ahead for good as the two combined for all five of the Raider tallies in the first period, opening up a 5-1 lead. In the second period, Evan and Nick Wright accounted for all of the scoring, with Evan scoring twice and Nick blasting a Yates pass behind Stone goalie Colin Jackson to make the score 8-1 with 1:10 left in the period. Bonnel added his fourth goal less than two minutes into the final period and Evan Wright tallied his fourth with 4:18 remaining in the game to account for the final margin. Bonnel led many of the Leonardtown scoring charges on the evening, as he used his stick skills to keep the Stone defenders busy. It’s a challenge he says he enjoys. “Whenever I have the puck, teams want to make me look bad, so it gives me a chance to score or get my teammates a goal,” he says. “It makes me more confident as well.” Steven Haffner also scored twice and senior goaltender Sean Urlocker stopped 16 shots for Leonardtown, who will take on cross-town rival St. Mary’s Ryken in their next game Wednesday January 6 at Capital Clubhouse. Bonnel looks forward to the game, the only scheduled time these two teams will face off this season. “They have a couple of good players like us, so it should be a really good game,” he said. Rob Barthelmes doesn’t plan to change too much heading into that game. “It’s another game, you want to play your best every game,” h said. “We don’t change what we do. We try to play to our strengths and take advantage of the other team’s weaknesses.” chrisstevens@countytimes.net
Seahawks Finish Puerto Rico Tournament Unbeaten
Santurce, P.R. – Universidad Metropolitana was no match for the St. Mary’s College of Maryland men’s basketball team as the Seahawks (8-2) closed out the Puerto Rico Division III Classic with a commanding 71-51 triumph over Metropolitana at Universidad del Sagrado Corazon Sunday evening. Senior guard Camontae Griffin (Baltimore, Md./Dunbar) was the lone Seahawk in double digits as Griffin tallied a game-high 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting along with three rebounds and three assists. Junior guard Alex Franz (Catonsville, Md./Cardinal Gibbons) and sophomore forward Brian Grashof (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) each added nine points while Franz and freshman guard Chris Hutchinson (Baltimore, Md./New Town) hauled in a game-best six caroms apiece. St. Mary’s pressure defense kept Metropolitana off balance in all aspects of the game as UMET shot a mere 29.5% from the floor, including a dismal 16.7% from three-point land. Metropolitana was overpowered on the boards as well as the Seahawks posted a resounding 55-34 advantage in rebounding. In addition, the Seahawks ruled the key, pouring in 28 points in the paint.
SMCM controlled the contest from the opening tip-off, establishing a double-figure margin at the 10:32-minute mark as Griffin snapped a two-minute scoring drought for both sides with a three-point play. Metropolitana never staked a claim in the entire game, tying the score just once at 19:07 as Wesley Gonzalez’s layup made it 2-2. The Seahawks rolled to a 34-19 halftime lead. Jonathan Perez paced UMET with 10 points and a game-best five steals while Luis Garcia and Daniel Polanco chipped in eight points and six boards each. Eighteen bench points in the second half helped St. Mary’s more than double its halftime advantage as the Seahawks boasted a 6430 margin with 8:07 remaining on a layup by junior guard Joe Smith (College Park, Md./DeMatha Catholic). Metropolitana forged a 21-7 run to close out the game and lessen the sting of a 71-51 loss. St. Mary’s will hit the court again on December 28 as the Seahawks face Averett University at The Car Coop/Weenie Miller Memorial Holiday Hoops hosted by HampdenSydney College in Virginia. Tip-off is set for 7:00 pm.
CARROLL’S EQUIPMENT 17723 Three Notch Road Dameron, MD
301-872-5553
Mon - Fri: 8am - 5pm; Sun: 8 - Noon
1725027
WEDNESDAY Decmber 23, 2009
2010 Could Be an Anti-Incumbent Year
Story Page 5
Oyster Plan Spells Doom For Watermen Story Page 6
Tots Get Toys During a Rough Economy Story Page 21
Hornets Shut Down Raiders Photo By Karl Cin
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