The County Times -- January 7, 2010 by David Noss

See Page 16, and 17 for CouPon SPeCialS!

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Wednesday, January 7, 2010

Owings Announces Run For Governor Story Page 4

Kohl’s, Other Stores, To Open Soon Story Page 8

Spring Ridge Teacher Win’s Educator Of Year Award Story Page 14

Ives: Base & County ConneCtIon Deeper than Money Page 16

Photo by Frank Marquart

The County Times

Weekend Dinner Specials Fully Prepared In Our Kitchen Price Effective Friday, January 8 - Sunday, January 10

Whole Rotisserie Chicken • 1 lb. Mashed Potatoes • 1 lb. Corn • ½ doz. Fresh Dinner Rolls • 2 ltr. Coke or Pepsi

. 1 $1

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Your Paper... Your Thoughts What do you think the Washington Redskins need to do to make the playoffs next season? “They need a leader. Zorn didn’t have a clue what he was doing.” – Steve Daly, Hollywood

“They need to get a tight offensive line to protect the quarterback, and the defense needs to come together. They should be alright next year with the new coach.” – Tyrone Bannister, Mechanicsville.

“Just forget about the past, start anew and never second guess themselves.” – Stephanie Stone, Morganza

The County Times

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Anne Fogel, a special education teacher at Spring Ridge Middle School, was selected as the national Sam Kirk Educator of the Year. SEE PAGE 14

On T he Covers

“It was easy for ON THE FRONT a long period of Former Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Capt. Glen Ives (Ret.) and his wife Barbara, time. I’ve been in also a retired Navy Captain, reflect on what the future holds for NAS Pax River. Congress since 1981, and for ON THE BACK most of those Chopticon’s Larry Cannon wins his 114-pound match on Tuesday night during the tri-meet against Huntingyears, we bought county town and Great Mills. Nearly 100 supporters and reporters showed up at but didn’t pay, the Calvert County Courthouse lawn on Wednesday Also Inside 4 County News and everybody for George Owings’ official announcement of his run for the governor’s office. SEE PAGE 4 7 Editorial/Opinion loved it.” Congressman Steny Hoyer

Weather

Watch

See Page 5 for Year in Review.

money stock market

For Weekly Stock Market cloSing reSultS, check Page 8 in Money

New signs went up this week at the site of the Kohl’s store under construction on Route 235 in Lexington Park. The store is scheduled to open within three months. SEE PAGE 8

8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 30

Money Defense and Military Obituaries Crime and Punishment Education Cover Newsmakers Community Community Calendar History Wandering Minds Entertainment Games Football St. Mary’s College Wrestling

AM R G O R P EC S Burris’ Olde R O IAL C NTRACT Towne Insurance O Auto - Home - Business - Life

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The County Times

ews

Thursday, January 7, 2010 In the U.S., over one million gallons of cosmetics, drinks, and lotions are sold that contain aloe in them per year.

un Fact

Owings Running for Governor By Guy Leonard Staff Writer George Owings, a former Calvert County state delegate and Secretary of Veterans Affairs under the Robert Ehrlich administration, formally announced Wednesday he is running in the Democratic primary to unseat Gov. Martin O’Malley. Owings made his announcement at the Calvert County courthouse complex and quickly took to criticizing what he called the O’Malley administration’s bent for taxation, spending and attacking business interests. “The time to return to a day of good government is upon us,” Owings said to a crowd of about 100 supporters, and media. “The phrase often repeated ‘Government that works has turned into a veiled and empty promise.” Owings said that tax increases implemented by O’Malley’s administration in its early days had the opposite affect on the state budget it had expected. “It killed business,” Owings said, adding that if elected governor he would institute a budget process that would focus “our eyes on necessities and not luxuries.” “You work with business, not against business,” he said. Owings key example of this was O’Malley’s pressure on the Public Service Commission to examine the deal between power provider Constellation Energy and Electricite de France to construct a new reactor at Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant. Local officials in favor of the deal said that O’Malley’s insistence on rate concessions for BG&E customers could have scuttled the deal. “That would have cost Southern Maryland 4,000 construction jobs,” Owings said. Owings candidacy comes at a time when O’Malley’s popularity seems to have weakened; according to a recent Clarus Research Group poll only 39 percent of residents polled wanted to see him remain governor, while 48 percent wanted someone else as Mary-

land’s chief executive. “Governor O’Malley is now below 50 percent across-the-board in the triple crown of re-election poll metrics: trial heat, generic re-elect, and job approval,” said Ron Faucheux, president of Clarus Research Group in a statement of the late 2009 poll. “O’Malley faces two major problems that are dragging him down. First, his issue ratings are lackluster, especially on economic and fiscal matters. Second, he’s polling only 34 percent of independents against [former Gov. Robert] Ehrlich.” Some politicos around the state have speculated that Ehrlich will once again make a run for governor in 2010. Todd Eberly, a political science professor at St. Mary’s College of Maryland said he did not believe Owings could beat O’Malley because the incumbent had a solid base in the Democratic party establishment in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties Photo by Guy Leonard as well as Baltimore City, but Owings candidacy Nearly 100 supporters and reporters showed up at the Calvert County Courthouse lawn could appeal to the more conservative elements in on Wednesday for George Owings’ official announcement of his run for the governor’s Southern Maryland, the Eastern Shore and in West- office. that needed to be removed to save money. ern Maryland. One example, he said, was in duplication of services in agenThis could have the affect of boosting a Republican challenger cies like the Department of the Environment and the Department of like Ehrlich should he choose to run. “O’Malley would certainly be the front runner in the primary… Natural Resources. Annapolis lobbyist and fellow Democrat Bruce Bereano came but in no way would I say O’Malley’s seat is safe,” Eberly said. With Democrats nationwide suffering retirements or declines out in support of Owings’ candidacy. “Voters need a choice, that’s what primaries are for,” Bereano to run among its key players, Eberly said, Maryland Republicans said. “This current administration is all about taxing, if they come might do well in 2010 as they did in 2004. “If he [Owings] can run strong in those areas it can reveal back they’re going to tax people like crazy.” Bereano said that Owings pedigree in local and state politics weaknesses for O’Malley,” Eberly said. made him a formidable opponent to O’Malley. Owings, 64, of Dunkirk, said that he could not promise there “He knows how to make government work,” Bereano said. would be no tax increases in coming fiscal years — government had its costs, he told reporters — but there were things in the state budget guyleonard@countytimes.net

The County Times

Thursday, January 7, 2010

ews Today’s Newsmakers In Brief On the possibility of raising tax rates in light of decreased property assessments

On what programs are at risk this year when the legislature works on the state budget

“That’s off the table, nobody’s talking about that.”

“All of it, we’re beyond certain programs at risk.”

Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (D-Great Mills)

House Minority Leader Del. Anthony O’Donnell (D-Dist. 29C)

Top Stories of 2009 We at The County Times are recapping the top news stories of 2009 to give readers a glimpse of the most interesting and eventful news of the past year. This week we look back and give snippets from the top stories from July to December, See the sports and education sections of this newspaper for the top stories of the year in education and sports. All stories printed in The County Times can be viewed in their entirety online at www.Countytimes.net. Check out the archive for full page views of each issue of the paper.

July Hoyer: Fun Times in Congress Are Over July 9 After 28 years representing Maryland in Congress, Rep. Steny Hoyer, told the Lexington Park Rotary Club on Monday that the

Part 2

days of Congress’ reckless spending with no thought to the future are over. “Let me say something politicians don’t like to say: It was easy for a long period of time. I’ve been in Congress since 1981, and for most of those years, we bought but didn’t pay, and everybody loved it,” Hoyer said.

“Dorsey Machine” of local politics when his father got that senate seat, a position of considerable power, he said. “Everybody’s referred to it as the ‘Dorsey Machine,’ which implies corruption,” he said. “The only thing I can say is that my father tried to help a lot of people personally and get people jobs.” Woman Pleads Guilty To Wal-Mart Bomb Threats – July 16 A Lusby woman accused earlier this year of making eight separate bomb threats at the California Wal-Mart Super Store where she was employed has pleaded guilty to three of those felony counts, according to the prosecutor on the case. “When she made her confession… she said she didn’t want to go to work.”

For Dorsey, Politics Is In The Blood - July 9 Walter B. Dorsey, former state senator and veteran county state’s attorney, can remember when his father Philip Dorsey, who later became a Circuit Court judge, ran against Alan Coad for the state senate seat in 1934 and lost by some 500 or 600 votes. His father, undeterred by defeat, went on to win a delegate’s seat in 1936. It was the beginning of what some have called the

August New Bingo Licenses Mean ADF Could Reopen Doors - Aug. 13 Officials with the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office have confirmed that they have approved two new bingo licenses for local charities that want to operate fundraisers at the ADF Bingo

County Has No Plans To Raise Commissioner President Property Tax Rate Slams O’Malley’s Oyster Plan By Guy Leonard Staff Writer When County Commissioner Lawrence D. Jarboe (R-Golden Beach) offered to make a personal letter to Gov. Martin O’Malley a consent letter for all commissioners to support the state’s new proposed plans for more oyster sanctuaries in local waters it didn’t take long to draw strong opposition. Commissioner President Francis Jack Russell, a longtime waterman, quickly said that Jarboe could send the letter along on his own but he shouldn’t expect his support for the governor’s plan. One of the elements of the O’Malley plan is to put an oyster sanctuary at the headwaters of the St. Mary’s River, Russell said, and that would effectively destroy one of the last bastions of oyster harvesting open to local watermen. “To have a sanctuary in the head of the St. Mary’s River is an example of someone not knowing what they’re talking about,” Russell said in response to Jarboe’s proposal. After the meeting Russell said that the county’s eponymous river has exhibited natural oyster growth to some degree every year for the past 50 years and was the only waterway in the county to do so. “There’s plenty of other space for oyster

sanctuaries,” Russell said, saying that Fort Point near Webster Field Annex in St. Inigoes would be a good spot because it had not produced oysters for a long period of time and would not impede watermen from making a living. “It’s [putting an oyster sanctuary in the St. Mary’s River] going to screw things up because no one is going to be able to work that bottom,” Russell said. “It’s just another few nails in the coffin.” Jarboe said that the governor’s proposal, which still has to go to public hearings and would be administered by the Department of Natural Resources, would help to seed more oysters in both the St. Mary’s and Patuxent River and help make the Chesapeake Bay a thriving estuary again. The revival of the oyster is widely seen as one of the best ways to help clean up the bay because the mollusks filter out sediments and other pollutants. Russell said that oyster sanctuaries were not popular with watermen but they would accept them as long as they did not prove an obstacle to their already struggling harvesting operations. “The governor’s plan can work very well but they’ve got the wrong place for these sanctuaries,” Russell said. guyleonard@countytimes.net

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

In light of recent word from the state Department of Assessments and Taxation that property tax assessments for residential properties in the northern end of the county have decreased by some 16 percent elected officials say that there are no plans in the near future to increase the tax rate to compensate for falling revenues. “I don’t think we’ll raise any tax rates,” said Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly (D-Leonardtown). “We’ll probably see some decrease in revenues but we can make adjustments in the budget. “It wasn’t unexpected,” he said. With a five percent tax cap on primary residences in the county, officials say, the amount of decrease in revenues up front might be diminished because homeowners with a $100,000 home with a 15 percent increase in assessment would only pay on $105,000 of value. Where it could have the most effect, they say, would be with secondary residences that are not protected by the tax rate cap. Several years ago tax rates went up for properties in the northern, middle and southern portions of the county, sometimes as high as 60 percent, and officials are now concerned that

there will be just as precipitous a drop in valuation as their was an increase about four years ago. Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (D-Great Mills) said that despite this the rate of revenue reduction for the county would take several years to be felt severely. “They’ll have to go down 10 to 15 percent in three or four cycles to see an impact on the tax bill,” Raley said. “But there’s going to be some drop in revenue.” Raley said local government would have to be cautious with expenditures because of the looming loss of revenues over the next several years, but right now no increases in the tax rates are being considered seriously. “That’s off the table, nobody’s talking about that; but I’m not sure we can do constant yield either,” Raley said. Commissioner Lawrence D. Jarboe (RGolden Beach) said that the constant yield measure, which he has pushed for several years would keep residents’ tax bills constant despite prior increase in assessments, was critical. “I would hope the other commissioners would listen to the public,” Jarboe said. “Sometimes you have to make do with less.” guyleonard@countytimes.net

The County Times

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Thursday, January 7, 2010

2009 Year In Review Continued

Hall in Mechanicsville, which has been closed for weeks since its community foundation arm was denied a license. “Where bingo is held is irrelevant, the law is the law,” Capt. Alioto said. “There is no more ‘Here’s your bingo license, go do whatever you want.’”

day,” said Fuller. The new facility, a former State Highway Administration building on Route 5 in Leonardtown, had finally been transformed into a functioning winery after years of working to get the project off the ground.

Commissioners Call Redevelopment Grant ‘Bailout’ - Aug. 13 Commissioner President Francis Jack Russell said he did not allow a proposal to accept federal grant money to buy and then demolish an old gas station on Great Mills Road to come to a vote by the Board of County Commissioners because it smacked of bailing out a private company. “I’m a little disappointed with the county commissioners for not even bringing it to the table,” said Paul Colonna, vice president ofBesche Oil. “We didn’t rebuild there because it wasn’t [economically] feasible.”

Hospital Merger Means More Jobs, Services – Sept. 24 Leaders of St. Mary’s Hospital and Med-Star Health say their merger, announced this week, will result in expanded services in Southern Maryland and additional job opportunities at the hospital. “We reached out to MedStar. We initiated this process,” said Christine Wray, president and CEO of St. Mary’s Hospital. Unlike what typically comes to mind when two companies merge, there will be no layoffs or reductions in services.

October

September Hoyer Faces Angry Crowd at Town Hall – Sept. 3 Steny Hoyer, who represents Southern Maryland, was greeted alternately with cheers and boos from some of the 1,500 people who packed the North Point High School gymnasium. [M]any in the crowd roundly booed Hoyer’s panel members as they spoke, claiming they were wasting precious time to ask questions. “We don’t want to hear these people!” one person shouted from the crowd. “No one would be required to join the public plan,” Hoyer said. New Local Winery Accepts First Batch of Grapes – Sept. 3 As Rich Fuller, president of the Southern Maryland Wine Growers Coop, unloaded the first grapes of the season at the front entrance to the new Leonardtown Winery, it seemed he couldn’t hold back a smile. “This is a big

Is O’Malley Jeopardizing Power Plant Expansion? -Oct. 8 Many local Republicans and Democrats alike are accusing Gov. Martin O’Malley of playing politics with the multi-billion dollar merger. “I don’t want anything to jeopardize the expansion of the plant,” said Gary Hodge, chairman of the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland. “I think it’s unfortunate that projects of this magnitude and complexity get entangled in bureaucratic turf wars.” County Asks For $750,000 Back From Schools – Oct. 15 The mood was somewhat somber at the Board of Education meeting on Wednesday as members deliberated on how to return $750,000 to the county to cover shortfalls due to reductions in money coming from the state. “In the last month we have been informed by … the County Commissioners, … of the cuts from the state … it was determined that we would be responsible for $750,000 of that cut,” said Superintendent Michael Martirano. Missing Chopticon Student Found Dead - Oct. 29 A flurry of police activity surrounding the search for a missing teenager came to a close on Tuesday afternoon when authorities found the student dead in his truck from what was believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. “We’re just devastated,” said Chopticon Principal Garth Bowling. “… and our concern is for our faculty, too … because quite a few of these teachers knew this student and they’re going through a hard time as well.”

November

The Board of County Commissioners officially closed out a state grant of $182,000 that would have been used to fund a small crisis facility for tri-county youth in need of shelter, but state cuts had doomed the facility to close back in September. Bennett Connelly, director of the county’s Department of Human Services that helped administer the shelter in Calvert County, said that given the dire fiscal situation at the state level, the chances of getting the three-year-old plan a new life were poor. “I wish I could say yes but given the fiscal picture in Maryland you can’t predict when that’s going to happen,” Connelly said. The program was a cooperative venture between the three Southern Maryland counties that allowed young people who were in crisis that did not have security issues to have a safe place to stay. When it was started in 2006, Connelly said, it was the only crisis facility of its type in the region; before that young people had to be transferred by referral to a facility in Fred-

fall is about $3 billion, while his counterpart on the other side of the aisle, Del. John Bohanan (DDist.29B), says it’s more like $2 billion. “The state has overspent in my opinion, every time we get a revenue statement it seems to get worse,” said O’Donnell. Restaurant At The End Of The Airport? - Nov. 19 Discussions are underway within the Airport Advisory Committee to bring a restaurant to the terminal at St. Mary’s County Airport. “We have a great airport here,” Airport Advisory Committee Chairman Jim Davis said. “This is a chance to make it better. This airport can be a first class facility for aircraft users in the not too distant future … We want to make this beautiful terminal we have into a more useful resource for the community.”

December Leonardtown Mayor Wants Board To Look At Other Library Sites - Dec. 3 Mayor J. Harry Norris has asked the St. Mary’s County Library Board to consider other sites for the new library slated for Leonardtown since funding for the project seems to be in question. Originally planned for construction on the Hayden Farm property on the outskirts of town on Hollywood Road, Norris has said that he wants to see the library much closer to the downtown area. “If they’re not going to move ahead in the near future with the library then I asked that they reconsider the location,” Norris said. Presidential Helicopter Program May Get Resurrected – Dec. 3 After being cancelled last spring, the presidential helicopter program may be on its way back, according to some comments made by the top acquisition official for the nation’s military. The helicopter program was one of the most touted of projects to come to Patuxent River Naval Air Station but several jobs were lost when the program was scrubbed. “We can’t let that happen this time. We need to shape the requirements so the program becomes doable,” said Ashton B. Carter, assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics.

Delegates Differ On County Spending – Nov. 5 Southern Maryland delegates have different takes on the deficit the state faces in 2011. Del. Anthony O’Donnell (R-Dist. 29C) says that the short-

With Grants Closed Out, Youth Shelter Hopes Fade Away

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

erick or Baltimore. Young people will have to go to one of those facilities again, Connelly said. “It worked well, we served over 100 kids,” he said. “They were closer to their families and to their home schools. “We could resolve those problems and get them home quicker.” This is just one of the cuts that have impeded the work at the relatively new human services department; overall the department has lost $2 million in grant money from the state since July, Connelly said, which is the greatest source of funding. And the financial outlook is only growing worse, he said. “What we’ve experienced this year may be better than what we’ll see next year,” Connelly said. Commissioners lamented the loss of the facility project. “This one really hurts, this is a shame,” Commissioner Daniel H. Raley said. “They needed help and this helped them.” guyleonard@countytimes.net

Milam Retires

Photo by Guy Leonard Cpl. Wayne Milam, right, looks over a plaque given to him by the St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners celebrating his retirement from the sheriff’s office. Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron, middle, said that Milam was a valuable deputy. “He’s had a distinguished career,” Cameron said. “He’s trained a lot of people, trained a lot of supervisors.” Capt. Michael Merican stands at left.

The County Times

Thursday, January 7, 2010

2010 Will Be a Year to Remember

This will be a year to remember. It will probably take us about six months to actually begin to feel the impact of the new tax structures that have been or are in the process of being put in place. We people don’t really pay much attention to our government until we actually feel their hands in our pockets, grabbing our wallets. That feeling will be soon to arrive. There is one ray of ‘sunshine’. That ray can be defined as the 2010 election season. WE have a chance to elect some conservatives who will immediately take charge in Washington and rescind some of the confiscatory taxes and laws and programs that our socialist dictators have passed. One politician we can hopefully get rid of Steny Hoyer who pushed so hard for the Obama Care bill that will tax us until 2014 before it goes into effect. Another will be Mikulski – she wants the health care bill, too. Who can we replace them with? Let’s find conservatives out there somewhere who have the intestinal fortitude to stand up and do what’s right – get us out of this mess. I really don’t believe many people grasp how artfully the new taxes will steal our money. Everything form over-the-counter-drugs, Medicare cuts, higher income taxes, and higher taxes on investments, to the screaming inflation rates that’s just around the corner is going to make us punch drunk trying to find

a way to survive. It doesn’t take an economic guru to look at what’s happening. Just open your eyes. If we ran our households the way the elected socialist are running our country we’d be bankrupt in a few months- unless we, like our government, had our money machine in the basement where we could print our dollars. But even that would only work for a little while. If people would just stop and look at what’s happening in places like Venezuela and North Korea, then imagine those happenings occurring in the country, it is sobering. Never happen here, you say? Think again. All it takes is a couple late night votes and it happens. Nationalization like in Venezuela? Already happened – regardless of what the polls say. Devaluing our money? It’s in process as we speak. Print enough money and the dollar loses its value. So devalue it. LET’S WAKE UP, PEOPLE! We have one chance to get the socialist out of Washington. If we pass up that chance in November 2010, we won’t be able to change anything in 2012. If that happens, I fear our new national motto will change from “In God We Trust” to “Workers Of The World, Unite.” Our glorious Starts and Stripes will add a hammer and sickle. Is that what we want? James Hilbert Mechanicsville, Md

Winterize Your Vehicle and Have One Less Worry

Motorists in most of the country face severe weather conditions for at least part of the winter. The thought of a breakdown, an engine not starting or otherwise being stranded is stressful as it is, but those things happening in freezing winter weather add another level of threat. An investment of an hour or so to have your vehicle checked is all it takes to have peace of mind and help avoid the cost and stress of a breakdown during harsh weather. Battery - Very cold temperatures will reduce a vehicle’s battery power so it’s important to keep the connections clean, tight and corrosion-free. Unfortunately, batteries don’t always give warning signs before they fail completely. If your vehicle’s battery is more than three years old, it’s wise to replace it. Antifreeze - The typically recommended mixture of antifreeze (coolant) and water inside most vehicles’ radiator is 50:50. When

properly mixed, antifreeze provides excellent anti-boil, anti-freeze and anticorrosive properties. Coolant should be flushed and refilled at least every two years in most vehicles. As a reminder, don’t make the mistake of adding 100 percent antifreeze. Oil - Change to low-viscosity oil, as it will flow more easily between moving parts when cold. Drivers in sub-zero driving temperatures should drop their oil weight from 10-W30 to 5-W30 as thickened oil can make it hard to start the car. To make sure your car is ready for the road this winter, visit the Car Care Council’s Web site at www.carcare.org and check out the popular digital Car Care Guide. Rich White, Executive Director Car Care Council

Keeping Your Clunker Can Save Your Wallet

Many Americans with so called “clunkers” have considered the purchase of a new car, but the cost in today’s economic climate may be prohibitive. The Engine Repower Council suggests that keeping your current vehicle running efficiently is a sensible alternative that can save big money in the long run. Edmonds.com reports that the average car loan payment is $479 per month over a fouryear period. For the cost of an average down payment on a new car or truck, you can repower your vehicle’s worn out engine with a remanufactured/rebuilt engine. Considering that nearly $23,000 can be saved by skipping car loan payments for the life of a four-year loan, installing a remanufactured/rebuilt engine is clearly a very sound and cost effective investment. With repowering, a vehicle’s engine or an identical one from another like-vehicle, is completely disassembled, cleaned, machined and

remanufactured/rebuilt. Unlike used or junk yard engines with an unknown performance and maintenance history, remanufactured/ rebuilt engines are dependable, reliable and backed by excellent warranty programs. In addition to its financial benefits, remanufactured/rebuilt engines also save the tremendous amount of energy used in processing discarded engines and vehicles. It also saves an incredible amount of raw materials that would have been used in building a new engine. To learn more about the benefits of installing a remanufactured/rebuilt engine, visit the Engine Repower Council’s Website at www. enginerepower.org. Dave Wooldridge, Chairman Engine Repower Council

To The Editor:

Editorial: Spending As Usual In Maryland General Assembly

By Marta Hummel Mossburg The Washington Examiner

What $2 billion deficit? The pre-filed bills before the Maryland legislature show pet causes, narrow interests and bigger spending will dominate debate when legislators convene on Jan. 13 for the 2010 session. For example, Sen. Robert Garagiola, D-Montgomery County, wants Marylanders to spend $40,000 to build a tai chi court at Cabin John Park. The exercise may promote "serenity through gentle movements," as described by the pre-eminent Mayo Clinic. But can't proponents pay for it themselves? Sen. Edward Kasemeyer, a Democrat representing Baltimore and Howard counties, wants taxpayers to go into debt for $250,000 to help the Columbia Association Inc. improve Symphony Woods Park. For those not in the know, the Columbia Association is a private organization in Howard funded by homeowners on the property it oversees and by fees from nonresidents who use its facilities. Del. Aisha Braveboy, D-Prince George's County, wants $250,000 to improve the Walker Mill Day Care Center. That's great for Walker Mill's employees and parents whose children attend the school, but not for everyone else who receives no subsidies for child care. I wonder if these legislators made a personal donation to fund the causes for which they so lavishly pledge taxpayer dollars. More importantly, these proposals make a joke of House Speaker Michael Busch's statement that the state government is all "bone and gristle." The bond bills are small expenses compared to other proposals, however. With expanded Medicaid rolls eating up an ever larger percentage of the budget, Sen. Joan Carter Conway, D-Baltimore City, wants to force insurers to expand in vitro fertilization coverage. Can Conway explain how a procedure that can only be described as nonessential and that costs more than $10,000 per cycle (many couples need more than one), when offered to women of childbearing age in Maryland, will help to contain costs and provide greater access to basic medical services? Maryland already has one of the highest number of health care mandates in the country, making insurance more expensive. Del. Michael Smigiel, R-Caroline, Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne's counties, and Del. Saqib Ali, D-Montgomery County, should be praised for proposing separate pieces of legislation to expand transparency in the state. And Smigiel deserves special recognition for legislation to make it harder for the state to condemn private property to hand it over to well-connected developers. But what's missing is serious legislation, like amending state employee pensions to make them more affordable to taxpayers, to align tax receipts with expenditures. In a Department of Legislative Services report, Michael Rubenstein wrote, "The decline in the system's funded status from 78.6 to 65.0 percent, and projections that the funding ratio will continue to approach 50.0 percent in coming years, are just the latest signs that the state will face a significant fiscal challenge to pay for retiree costs in the years ahead." And that's not even counting health care for state retirees. Taxpayers should not be fooled if legislators manage to balance the budget this election year. A failure to make substantive cuts to the state budget in 2010 only means higher taxes in 2011 and beyond. Examiner Columnist Marta Mossburg is a senior fellow with the Maryland Public Policy Institute and lives in Baltimore. mmossburg@mdpolicy.org

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a first come, first serve basis. Appraisals are verbal evaluations and not certified appraisals for insurance purposes. Certified appraisals would be available by appointment at a later date. There will also be a free soup tasting sponsored by the Chincoteague Seafood Company. For more information, contact the St. Clement’s Island Museum by 301-769-2222 or visit www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/museums

Special n -I e Mov Discounted Cable

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un Fact

store/?storeID=305. Cohen said that Rite Aid will begin construction in the first quarter of 2010, and will be located at the corner of Buck Hewitt Rd. and Route 235, which is directly across from an existing CVS Pharmacy. The development spans 25 acres in total, with 18 currently devoted to the new shopping center, and sits on what used to be the National Mobil Home Park. The trailer park consisted

The newest “big box” department store in the county is on course to open in less than three months, and will anchor the one of the counties’ newest shopping strips in Lexington Park. Kohl’s, one of the nation’s leading department store chains, is expected to open its doors in late March to do business, and will be followed by a Rite Photo by Sean Rice Aid drug store as well as several smaller shops in the new Lexington Village shopping. “We have about 25,000 – 30,000 square feet of shop tenants coming in,” said Craig Cohen, project manager for CGR Development, the company responsible for the new center. “They vary from nail places to restaurants to convenience stores.” Cohen was unable to go into detail about the specific vendors who are looking into the new space due to ongoing negotiations and requests by the vendors for privacy until agreements are New signs went up this week at the site of the Kohl’s store under construction on Route 235 in Lexington Park. The store is scheduled to reached. We are in the process of leas- open within three months. ing out another 40,000 square feet of which we of 94 lots, and a controversy erupted when the are looking at letters of intent and negotiating residents were first told in 2007 that they would leases now,” Cohen added. He said the entire have to find new land for their mobile homes shopping center is about 180,000 sq. ft., with and relocate. Kohl’s being the single largest component of it According to Cohen, the acreage that is at just under 90,000 sq. ft. not used for this shopping center is approved With the opening date for Kohl’s coming for “mixed use,” meaning it could be used for close, the company is looking for people to fill more retail outlets, office space or even resipositions such as Area Supervisor, Customer dential purposes. Service Area Supervisor, Department Sales “We have a preliminary site approval for Supervisor, Operations Area Supervisor and a 110,000 – 120,000 square foot office building other sales specialists. Information on avail- adjacent to the shopping center,” Cohen said. “I able positions and how to apply is available am not saying that we are building one, but as on the Kohl’s careers Web site, http://www. a matter of public record, we do have site plan kohlscareers.com/aboutkohls/newstores/ approval.”

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St. Mary’s Newest ‘Big Box’ Store Opening Soon

Appraiser Fair Coming to St. Clement’s Island From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 23, appraisers for jewelry, furniture, glassware, pottery, artwork, music boxes, dolls and coins will be available at the St. Clement’s Island Museum to evaluate your antiques and collectibles. A fee for dolls, coins and jewelry will be $5 for the first two items and $10 per additional item. Fees for fine arts items are $5 per item with a twoitem limit. Space is limited and items will be viewed on

Thursday, January 7, 2010

By Martin Warczynski All aspects of a start-up business are of importance, but one of the most challenging can be technology and its role within your organization. Over the past year, it is probable that your operating costs have risen and you have no room for consulting services. So, in an effort to assist company's in taking the initiative, TechChampion is proposing the following offer: To the first ten (10) companies that submit a written request, TechChampion will provide a complimentary assessment of your technology, which includes software evaluation as well as network security and discovery. In addition, TechChampion will provide recommendations, verbal or written, based on the evaluation of your net-

worked environment. Whether you choose TechChampion, or another Managed Services Provider, be sure to look into their data protection methods and security strategy. Call today, 240 434 1011, or e-mail Martin@techchampion. net to schedule an appointment. TechChampion – Managed Services Provider assisting small and midsized businesses make smarter technology decisions. Call Martin at 240 434 1011, send written requests to Martin@techchampion.net Visit Online Blog at http://techchampion.wordpress.com

Thursday, January 7, 2010

The County Times

One-of-a-Kind ‘Frankenplane’ Delivered To Finland

The F/A-18 and EA-18G program office Finnish Integrated Product Team (IPT) visited Finland in September to participate in the roll out of the Finnish Air Force’s oneof-a kind twin-seat F/A-18 D aircraft. Also known as the “Frankenplane,” the modified F/A-18D HN-468 Hornet, converted from a single-seat F/A18C aircraft, was unveiled to representatives from the Finnish government, U.S. government and industry partners Finnish Air Force’s “Frankenplane” makes its debut in Halli, Jamsa, responsible for building the The Finland. aircraft. HN-468 “Frankenplane” project manager said The roll-out of the airin a press release. “The dedication of the project craft occurred in September 2009. The idea of building the modified aircraft partners was outstanding and exceeded all our came about after two Finnish F/A-18 aircraft col- expectations.” The primary partners of the project were lided during a flight exercise in November 2001. While one aircraft crashed and the pilot ejected the Finnish Air Force, the U.S. Navy, the Finnish safely, the other Hornet was able to land with one government’s partner Patria, the Boeing Comengine. However, that aircraft’s front fuselage pany and Canadian Forces. “The real magic came into this project via direct labor of individual people from all of the partners. These people worked hard for this vision and showed their professional skills and dedication right from the beginning of this project. These people created something special and showed that anything is possible in our F-18 community when there is a will present,” Korhonen said. The Finnish Air Force will now use the modified aircraft for training. The “Frankenplane” roll out followed a visit by Finnish Air Force officials to NAVAIR. During the visit, Finnish Air Force Maj. Gen. Jarmo (Charles) Lindberg presented a plaque of appreciation embedded with a pair of Finnish pilot’s wings to NAVAIR’s Finland IPT team. “The Hornet is the main tool of the Finnish Air Force. We are extremely grateful for the cooperation of NAVAIR, PMA265 and the Finland IPT team,” Lindberg said. Bill McDonald, F/A-18 Finland program manager for NAVAIR’s F/A-18 and EA-18G program office, accepts Finland’s air force has 63 Hornets in its a plaque of appreciation on behalf of his Finland fleet, including 56 single-seat “C” models and team from Jarmo Lindberg, commanding general of seven “D” dual-seat models. the Finnish Air Force. “It is especially gratifying for the Finland was damaged beyond repair. After a long search, F/A-18 team that General Lindberg came here to a compatible front fuselage from a twin-seat F/A- visit us and present us with the plaque as a thank18 B model aircraft was found in Canada and was you for all the good work the team has done,” built with the remaining F/A-18 aircraft that was said Bill McDonald, F/A-18 Finland program salvageable. manager. General Lindberg has been a joy to “Like all the projects, this needed a vision. work with. We look forward to working with his In this case, the vision was transferred to the great team for continued success in the future,” end product, the F-18 D-model aircraft from the “Looking back on where we started to combination of F-18 B/C/D-model design and where we are now, we had a very good Hornet. parts,” Petri Korhonen, former Finnish Air Force But it’s going to be a lot better,” Lindberg said.

NAVAIR Communications Security Conference

The NAVAIR Communications Security Management Team will host the annual NAVAIR Crypto Conference at the Patuxent River Base Theater Jan. 26-28. The conference will present the latest updates on Communications Security topics such as crypto modernization, legacy crypto support, Electronic Key Management System (EKMS), Key Management Infrastructure (KMI), validation process for COMSEC requirements and COMSEC training to program managers and/or their designated representatives. The conference is open to all NAVAIR program offices, COMSEC users, and Fleet COMSEC operators. Security clearances are required to attend. Information on registration, submission of security clearances, agenda, and other pertinent information is available on the PMA 209 website: http://www.navair.navy.mil/PMA209/conference/comsec.asp. Registration for this event will close on Jan. 22.

The County Times

Lillian Cowan, 100 Lillian Marie Kidd Cowan, 100 of Leonardtown, MD, died Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at St. Mary’s Nursing Center after receiving the last rites of Holy

Mother Church. Born September 19, 1909 in Bismarck, MO, she was the only child of Birt Thomas and Mary Magdalene O’Loughlin Kidd. She lived the majority of her life in her beloved St. Louis, MO. Working from a young woman in sales and as a buyer for the stationary department, she retired from Stix, Baer and Fuller Department Store, St. Louis, MO. Lillian was a devout catholic and parishioner of Our Lady’s Catholic Church, Medleys Neck, MD. She was educated solely by the Ursuline nuns in Missouri; she was a talented pianist and artist. As a great supporter of Fr. Flanagan’s Boys Home, she was an Honorary Citizen of Boys Town Nebraska. She was a life long member of the Daughter’s of Isabella, St. Louis of France Circle #170. She belonged to the Christian Ladies Sodality at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Parish, St. Louis, MO. While living in Leonardtown she had been an active member of the St. Mary’s County Chapter of the American Red Cross. Having been married to the late Roland Leo “Red” Cowan, she leaves her only child Elizabeth Lynn “Bee” Fenwick and her husband Dr. John Francis Fenwick. She is survived by two grandchildren, Dr. Lynn Mary Fenwick (Timothy Gerard Buhler) and John Kidd Fenwick, (Susan Cecelia Fenwick), also survived by four treasured great-grandchildren; Kristin Michelle and Erin Lynn Buhler and Ryan Kidd and Andrew Fenwick, three special cousins survive; Theda Will, Hentschel and Walter Neil Kidd of St. Louis, MO, and Ben Kidd Smith of Corpus Christi, TX, she was the aunt of Thomas Cowan of Highland, NY, Mary Means of Mason, OH and Marjorie Ouelette of Walpole, MS. Always a “Lady” Lillian possessed great beauty within as well as without. She spent a lifetime giving generously of her time and tireless energy to her family, many friends and acquaintances. She was a gentle, humble, quiet, compassionate, loving woman who shall be remembered for her twinkling blue eyes, wonderful smile and infectious laughter. Family will receive friends on Saturday, January 9, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Our Lady’s Catholic Church, Leonardtown, MD a Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. in the church with Father John Mattingly officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date in St. John the Apostle Catholic Church Cemetery, Bismarck, MO in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Mary’s, Inc., P.O. Box 625, Leonard-

town, MD 20650 Arrangements provided by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD

Clayton 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 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 the 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 held on Saturday, January 9, 2010 at 1 p.m. at the Take It Easy Ranch, 45285 Take It Easy Ranch Rd., Callaway, MD. 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.

Michelle Frankenberg, 39 Michelle Marie Frankenberg, 39 of Great Mills, MD, went to be with the Lord, December 31, 2009. Born August 18, 1970 in Plattsburgh, NY, she is survived by her son Andrew Jock, mother and step-father Cindy and Eugene Trudeau, adopted father Gilbert Jock and her natural father Kenneth Besaw, siblings; Jody Collins, (Cody), and Cory Jock, (Donyl) nieces and nephews; Christopher Collins, Cody Jock, Brad, Cortney, Emily and Jacob. Michelle was an accountant for McKay’s Food Store. She was a lay speaker for the Bethesda United

Methodist Church. Michelle was involved and loved all the children at her church. She worked extensively with the homeless; she touched many people’s hearts and will be missed by all who knew her. Family will receive friends for Michelle’s Life Celebration on Thursday, January 7, 2010 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD, where prayers will be recited at 7 p.m. by Reverend Keith White. A Memorial Service will be conducted on Friday, January 8, 2010 at 11 a.m. in Bethesda United Methodist Church, Valley Lee, MD with Reverend Irving Beverly officiating. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Three Oaks Homeless Shelter, P.O. Box 776, Lexington Park, MD 20653. Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfunral. com Arrangements provided by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD 20650

Reginald Hunt, 58 Mr. Reginald “Reggie” D. Hunt, 58, of Leonardtown, MD, the son of the late William I. and Vera E. (Ross) Hunt was born in Baltimore, MD on April 20, 1951. He entered into eternal life on December 31, 2009 at his residence. Reggie was educated in the Baltimore City Public School System. He was employed for many years with Western Electric and Lenox Corporation. For the last four years, he was employed by Cedar Lane Assisted Living facility where he was a dedicated worker. On December 31, 2002, he was united in holy matrimony to Bertha M. Young. This union was blessed with seven years of happy and loving times. Reggie, affectionately called Rennin, Jeggie, and Old Man, was a loving husband, son, father, grandfather, uncle and brother. He was dedicated to his family and was always there when needed. He leaves to cherish his memory his loving and devoted wife, Bertha, three daughters, Jacqueline, Sheronda, and Kimberly, one son, James, three sisters, Dorthea, Darlene and Victoria, three brothers, Bryant, Duprae and Nakia, fourteen grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, one aunt, Catherine Scott, mother-in-law, Theresa S. Young, five sisters-inlaw, two brothers-in-law, and a host of nieces, nephews, and special and loyal friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and daughter, Lisa Gray. Family will receive friends for Reggie’s Life Celebration on Sunday, January 10, 2010 from 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650. A Funeral Service will be conducted at 12 p.m. in

Thursday, January 7, 2010

the funeral home chapel. Interment will be private. Serving as pallbearers will be Samuel Eggleston, Nobal Campbell, Pat Scriber, Victor Thomas, Kevin Goldring and Jason. Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral. com. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.

Robert Ludke, 56 Robert Alan “Bob” Ludke, 56, of California, MD passed away suddenly on December 31, 2009 at St. Mary’s Hospital. Born July 19, 1953 in Washington, DC, he was the son of the late Richard Myton Ludke and Sibyl Areta Ludke of Ocala, FL. He is also survived by his brother Richard Ludke, Sr. of Milton, FL and his sister Kathryn (Ludke) McCollum of California, MD as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Bob’s career spanned over 20 years with Security Engineering Inc. in Dorsey, MD where he was an operations manager. All services are private. Condolences may be left to the family at www.mgfh. com. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.

Doris McLaren, 85 Doris Virginia McLaren, 85 met her Lord and Savior surrounded by family and friends December 31, 2009 at her residence in Lexington Park, MD. Born May 7, 1924 in Washington, DC, she was the daughter of the late Roland Samuel Kent, Sr. and Pauline Frances Headley Kent. She graduated from Eastern High School in Washington, DC with intentions of becoming a nurse. She worked at Sibley Hospital before she began her Civil Service Career at the Treasury Department. In February 1944, she met her late husband, William T. McLaren, a sailor at Patuxent (Pax) River, MD while ice-skating at Uline Arena. They were married September 28, 1944. She transferred to the Supply Department at Patuxent River, where she worked for several years. She had three children, the late William T. McLaren, Jr., Marleen McLaren McDaniel (Jack) of Byron, GA and the late Sheila Joy Katzberg (Robert). Doris loved working with children and also worked at the Daycare Center near the Flat Tops then at the Lexington Park Library where she became a librarian, specializing in children’s books. She loved entertaining children. She was honored in 2006

as one of the top 10 Sunday School Teachers in the United States. She taught the 4-year-old class at the Lexington Park Baptist Church for over 53 years, retiring just a few years ago. She was always involved in church. She volunteered her services whenever there was a need or she simply knew she would enjoy working at the church or in the community. She loved her church families and had many wonderful friends in St. Mary’s County. She never in her life met a stranger. She was an active member of the Red Hat Society, NARFE, Office on Aging, TOPS/ KOPS and volunteered at the yearly Health Fair and many other organizations. She and her late husband loved traveling to visit family in the United States as well as abroad, going to the Scottish Games, The Oyster Festival and many other county functions. She was the woman behind the man who became a lifetime member of Bay District Volunteer Fire Department, who helped build the Rod and Gun Club at Pax and a lifetime member of the Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad. She was the matriarch of the Kent family and was adored and will be terribly missed by all her family and all who knew her. She spent many hours keeping close contact with her brother and sisters and sisters-in law as well as their children and friends. She was like a mother and grandmother figure to a sister and nieces. She loved her sunroom, the home of pictures and gifts from family and friends. She enjoyed sharing her many picture albums, videotapes and telling visitors about the items in the sunroom. It was her favorite room as she was surrounded by so many memories. Doris loved being in her back yard, watching the birds and wondering where she would find the room to plant new flowers. She had plants from her husband’s mother’s home in Buffalo, NY, the country in Virginia, neighbors, and many friends. Her fellow gardener, Joe Gough, also made sure her yard was always groomed while taking the time to visit her. She took joy in sharing her plants with anyone and loved to hear if they survived. If the plants did not transplant well, she had no problem taking the time to figure out if they were planted as she instructed. In addition to her daughter, she is survived by her adored siblings, brother, Roland Samuel Kent, Jr. of Ashtabula, OH, her sisters Rose Lee Randall (Jene) of Suffolk, VA, Phyllis Irene Watkins of Charleston SC, and Sandra Louise Huett of Lusby, MD. Sisters-in-law, Pat McLaren of Salamanca, NY, Louise Davis of Richmond, VA, and Doris Gerber of Buffalo, NY. Daughter-in-law, Cheryl McLaren of Ashtabula, OH. Grandchildren, Kara Lynn Jones (Bryan) of Lexington Park, MD, William Thomas McLaren (Bridgette) of Newberry, FL, Michael Kent McLaren (Colleen) of Fredericksburg, VA and Robert (Robbie) Lee Katzberg of California, MD, and Scott, Melissa, and Shaun McDaniel of Byron, GA. Great grandchildren, Jon Thomas Mattingly, Charlize Joy McLaren,

Thursday, January 7, 2010

The County Times

Continued Kristofer Edward, Will Thomas, Jasmine and Sheila McLaren. Many, many beloved and cherished nieces, nephews, great and greatgreat nieces and nephews all over the US and abroad. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650. A Life Celebration Service will be conducted on Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 1 p.m. at the Lexington Park Baptist Church with Pastor Mark Garrett officiating. A eulogy will be given by her great nephew Mark Clements, Jr. Interment will follow in Charles Memorial Gardens. Friends are invited to enjoy fellowship with the family at the church after interment. Pallbearers will be; Glenn Davis, Bob Katzberg, Mike McLaren, Will McLaren, Randy Morris, Ed Tabor and Mike Watkins. Honorary Pall Bearers will be; Robbie Katzberg, Jon Thomas Mattingly and Glenn Young. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650, Bay District Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 1440, California, MD 20619 or Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 339, Lexington Park, MD 20653 Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral. com Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.

Juliane Moss, 56 Juliane Mary Moss, 56 of California, MD, died December 28, 2009 at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC. She was born on June 1, 1953, in Detroit, MI. The family received friends on Monday, January 4, 2009 in the MattingleyGardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD, where a funeral service followed with Pastor Tim Gross from Leonardtown Church of the Nazarene will be officiating. Interment will be private. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.

William Norris, 71 William Max Norris, 71, of Coltons Point, MD died December 27, 2009 at his residence. Born June 13, 1938 in Wadesboro, NC, he was the son of the late William Archie Norris and Wincy Ann (Parsons) Norris. Mr. Norris was a dedicated husband and father who was well known for his generosity. He was a very accomplished musician and was passionate about music. He loved being active in his church and could always make people laugh. Mr. Norris is survived by his wife, Joan Marie (Watson) Norris, daughter, Kathleen Maria Norris of Coltons Point, MD, and sisters, Beth Reynolds and Ramona G. Campbell of Troy, NC. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Stephen W. Norris. Services will be private.

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

Doris Shreve, 79 Doris Elizabeth Ayers Shreve, 79, of St. Inigoes, MD, and formerly of Hyattsville, MD, died on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at her home in the care of her loving family following a courageous battle with cancer. Born July 10, 1930 in Washington, DC she was the daughter of the late Douglas Ayers and Elizabeth O’Brien Ayers. She was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years Andrew David Shreve and their son Michael Andrew Shreve. She is survived by her children Teresa (Billy) Eldridge of Manassas, VA, Sharon Freeman of St. Inigoes, MD, Andrew David, Jr. ( Patti) Shreve of Chester, MD, Dennis (Judy) Shreve of Glenn Dale, MD and Deborah (Tommy) Fairfax of St. Inigoes, MD, a sister, Elizabeth A. Orndorff of Elkridge, MD, a brother Patrick T. Rogers of Hyattsville, MD. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren, including Jamie Freeman Carignan whom she nurtured from birth, 17 great-grandchildren, including Aubrey Carignan her sunshine. Doris devoted her life raising her family and was retired from the Center for Life Enrichment in Hollywood, Maryland where she helped serve the disabled community for 20 years. She was also a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Ridge, MD. She enjoyed playing cards, eating crabs, working crossword puzzles and going to Ocean City, MD with her family. Family and friends were received for Doris’s Life Celebration on Saturday, January 2, 2010 in St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 16566 Three Notch Road, Ridge, MD where a funeral mass was offered Reverend Lee Fangmyer, pastor of the church was the celebrant. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Hospice House, c/o Hospice of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650 or the Ridge Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 520, Ridge, MD 20680 or Ridge Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 456, Ridge, MD 20680. Condolences may be made to the family at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com Arrangements provided by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD 20650

Joseph Trossbach, Sr., 71 Joseph Bernard J.B. “Sonny” Trossbach, Sr., 71 of Dameron, MD passed away on December 30, 2009 at St. Mary’s Hospital. Born June 20, 1938 in Dam-

eron, MD he was the son of the late Bernard E. and Nettie L. Trossbach. Mr. Trossbach was a life long St. Mary’s County resident and a life member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church. Sonny was a member of the St. Mary’s County Farm Bureau and Knights of Columbus #2065, St. Michael’s Council. Sonny is survived by his wife Rita C. Trossbach of Dameron, MD, sons; Joseph “Sonny, Jr.” (Nikki)Trossbach, of Dameron, MD and Thomas “Tom” (Abby) Trossbach of Dameron, MD also survived by his grandchildren; Tessie, J.C., Mary and Travis Trossbach. Family received friends on Sunday, January 3, 2010 in St. Michael’s Catholic Church, where a Mass was celebrated on Monday, January 4, 2010 with Father Lee Fangmeyer officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery. Pallbearers were; J.C. Trossbach, Tom “Charlie” Bradburn, Ricky Long, Chuck Marmor, J.D. Biscoe and John Kovich. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Michael’s School Fund, P.O. Box 429, Ridge, MD 20680 and/or Ridge Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 456, Ridge, MD 20680 Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com

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

Jennie Welch, 87 J e n n i e Elamore Dean Welch, 87 of Mechanicsville, MD passed away on January 1, 2010 at her residence. Born April 7, 1922 in Scotland, MD she was the daughter of the late Nelson and Edith Ridgell Dean. Mrs. Welch was a lifetime resident of St. Mary’s County, she was a homemaker. Jennie enjoyed flowers, birds, singing and reading. In addition to her parents Jennie was preceded in death by her husband Rodolph “Rody” V. Welch son Paul Welch, and brothers; Nelson, John, Joe and James Dean. She is survived by her children; Mary Ann Stine (Raymond), of Mechanicsville, MD, Linda Hanson (David), of Mechanicsville, MD, Edith Davis (Eddie), of Ridge, MD, John Welch (Loretta), of Mechanicsville, MD, Genevieve Thompson

(Tommy), of Mechanicsville, MD, Arleen Oliver (Henry), Mechanicsville, MD, Gary Welch (Vern), of California, MD, Joan Smythers (Dick) of Hollywood, MD and Joyce Oliver (Mike), of Mechanicsville, MD. siblings; Mary Mercure, Cecelia Clark, and Frank Dean all of Scotland, MD, also survived by 24 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and 1 greatgreat- grandchild. Family received friends for Jennie’s Life Celebration on Monday, January 4, 2010. in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD, where prayers were recited. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, January 5, 2010. in Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Church, Chaptico, MD with Father William Gurnee officiating. Interment will follow in Queen of Peace Cemetery, Helen, MD. Pallbearers will be; Tom Stine, Dave Hanson, Jr., Adam Oliver, Curtis Thompson, Robert Oliver, Daniel Oliver and Jason Welch. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice House of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650 Condolences to the family may be at www.brinsfieldfuneral. com Arrangements provided by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD

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The County Times

Man Charged In 2008 Shooting Takes Plea By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Scott Davis, the man tried unsuccessfully for attempted murder in the shooting of a former Marine after a bar fight in Great Mills last year, took a plea Monday to two 18-month terms in the local detention center and two years of supervised probation on his release. Davis, 29, of California pleaded to one count of first-degree assault and one count of second-degree assault Monday resulting from the Nov. 10, 2008 shooting. Assistant State’s Attorney James Tanavage said that since the last jury came to an impasse on Davis’ guilt — there were questions that Davis could have been defending himself against larger assailants — the plea was a compromise both sides agreed on. “I think it’s a fair compromise based on the facts of the case,” Tanavage told The County Times. “We have many versions of what happened… and its difficult to pin down what version is correct. “Alcohol certainly had an affect on both sides of the case, I would surmise.” The incident started when the victim Jason McGrath, and several friends began to fight with Scott Davis and his acquaintances at Donovan’s Pub on Route 235; McGrath testified during the first trial that he believed that Davis and his friends had made pro-Muslim

statements while McGrath and Marine Corps compatriots were celebrating that service’s birthday. A fight soon ensued and spilled out into the parking Scott Davis lot, according to court testimony, with Davis and friends eventually making there way to a nearby liquor store to take care of wounds they suffered. McGrath and friends wandered to the same location and when they recognized Davis, they started to charge the vehicle Davis and another person were in. Davis then pulled out a small-caliber pistol and shot McGrath in the upper chest near the shoulder. In the first trial the prosecution argued that Davis and his friends could have left the entire area much sooner and avoided a confrontation; the defense argued that Davis was defending himself from aggressors who would not stop pressing the fight. David Densford, Davis’ attorney, declined to comment on the outcome of the plea. guyleonard@countytimes.net

Philip H. Dorsey III Attorney at Law

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Briefs Fight Broken Up At Local Bar On December 27, 2009, Deputy Matthew Rogers responded to the Dew Drop Inn in Hollywood for a reported disturbance. While on the scene Rogers observed a fight between two persons in the doorway area of the business. The alleged aggressor was identified as Daniel Caleb Young, 33, of Mechanicsville. Young was arrested, charged with disturbance of the public peace and released to the custody of the St. Mary’s County Detention Center pending an appearance before the District Court Commissioner.

Woman Arrested For Alleged Assault On December 30, 2009, Deputy Matthew Rogers responded to a residence in Hollywood, Maryland for an assault. Upon arrival, he learned Alewtina A. Musarro, 50, became involved in an argument with family members. During the argument, the male victim tried to intercede between the two arguing parties. Mussaro subsequently allegedly struck the victim in the neck with a wine glass causing injury. Mussaro was arrested, charged with assault and released to the custody of the St. Mary’s County Detention Center pending an appearance before the District Court Commissioner.

Man Charged With Smashing Window At Homeless Shelter On December 31, 2009, Cpl John Kirkner responded to the Three Oaks homeless shelter in Lexington Park for a dispute. James Calvin Morgan, 45, of Lexington Park was outside the facility and had been denied access due to his alleged intoxicated state. Kirkner directed Morgan to leave the property at the request of the building management and complied. Morgan subsequently returned about an hour later and allegedly smashed out a front door window using a plastic children’s chair causing $300 in damage. Morgan was located hiding under a trailer in the parking lot of the Three Oaks Center and was arrested. Morgan was charged with property destruction and released to the custody of the St. Mary’s County Detention Center pending an appearance before the District Court Commissioner.

Man Arrested For Refusing To Leave Mechanicsville Bar On December 31, 2009, Cpl Kevin Somerville responded to Big Dogs Paradise in Mechanicsville for a person refusing to leave the establishment. Upon arrival, Cpl Somerville learned Edmond P Ferguson Jr., 58, of Mechanicsville had been asked to leave the business by management because of his reported poor behavior but had refused. Somerville repeated the management’s request for Ferguson to leave several times and after the suspect’s alleged multiple refusals placed him under arrest for trespass. Ferguson was released to the custody of the St. Mary’s County Detention Center pending an appearance before the District Court Commissioner.

Man Charged With Domestic Assault Deputy Mattew Rogers responded to a residence in Leonardtown for an assault. Upon arrival, Rogers learned John Melvin Mattingly, 53, of Leonardtown became involved in an argument with his girlfriend, the reported victim. During the argument, Mattingly allegedly struck the victim in the head with his fist causing injury. John M Mattingly was arrested, charged with assault and released to the custody of the St. Mary’s County Detention Center pending an appearance before the District Court Commissioner.

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A fire that broke out near a wood stove in this house on Pin Cushion Road in Clements demolished the interior on Jan. 4. Firefighters from Leonardtown, Mechanicsville, Seventh District and Hollywood responded shortly after 9 a.m. The family that lives there, reportedly two adults and a child, were not at the house during the blaze, but the wood stove was left burning. The American Red Cross was called to assist the family and the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating. Photo by Sean Rice

Thursday, January 7, 2010

The County Times

THe Maryland general asseMbly MeeTs in annaPolis eacH year for 90 days To acT on More THan 2300 bills including THe sTaTe’s annual budgeT. detailed legislative information is updated nightly on the general assesmbly website at www.mlis.state.md.us.

legislative offices for all members of the general assembly can be reached toll free in Maryland at 1-800-492-7122.

Wishing the residents of District 29-C, Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties a Happy & Prosperous 2010. delegaTe Tony o’donnell

Minority leader Maryland House of delegates Paid for by friends of Tony o’donneell; lee Hurrey-baines, Treasurer

In The

Know Education

Fogel Wins Sam Kirk Educator of Year

Anne Fogel, a special education teacher at Spring Ridge Middle School, had been named the Sam Kirk Educator of the Year by the Learning Disabilities Association of America. Fogel was selected in the fall of 2009 to represent the State of Maryland for this national award

sons with learning disabilities. It is named in honor of the late Dr. Samuel A. Kirk, psychologist, educator, scholar, humanitarian, and pioneer in the field of learning disabilities. “Anne Fogel is very deserving of this award and I am so proud of her,” Michael J. Martirano, superintendent of schools said in a press release.. “She is caring, compassionate, dedicated, and hard working on behalf of each one of her students.” Fogel joined St. Mary’s County Public Schools in 1976 as a teacher at Great Mills High School. Shortly thereafter, she became part of the team that opened what was referred to as the “new” Leonardtown High School. Her career then led her to Town Creek Elementary School, followed by her current assignment at Spring Ridge Middle School where she has taught for the past eight years. Anne Fogel, a special education teacher at Spring Colleagues credit Fogel Ridge Middle School, was surprised with balloons, for having a “plethora of flowers and a visit from Superintendent Michael knowledge” and experiMartirano and Board of Education Chairman Bill Mattingly to announce her selection as the national ence teaching at many levels, including college Sam Kirk Educator of the Year. level courses. Currently, by the Learning Disabilities As- she serves as the vice president of sociation of Maryland. The Sam the Learning Disabilities AssociaKirk Educator of the Year award tion of St. Mary’s County, an oris given annually to an educator ganization she joined in 1987, and who has made outstanding con- also served as the chapter’s librartributions to the education of per- ian and secretary since that time.

SMCPS Receives $251,956 For FLOW Mentoring

St. Mary’s County Public Schools has been awarded a competitive, three year grant of $251,956 by the Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention for strategic enhancements to the Future Leaders of the World (FLOW) Mentoring program. FLOW Mentoring was one in thirteen organizations across the country to receive funding under this national initiative. FLOW Mentoring will use this grant to support expansion of, and programmatic enhancements to, its middle school group mentoring programs, which are currently running in all four SMCPS middle schools. The funds will also be

used to start group mentoring programs in each public high school in the county. This strategic enhancement is a partnership between FLOW Mentoring and Tri-County Youth Services, Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Maryland, St. Mary’s County Business, Education and Community Alliance, Saint Mary’s County College Access Program, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, St. Mary’s County Department of Juvenile Services, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. For more information, please contact Sarah Tyson, program manager, at 301-475-5511 x.145, or visit www.smcps.org/ mentor.

The County Times

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Top Education Stories of 2009 (Part 2 of 2) Middle Schools Set to Improve on AYP (July 30, 2009) The Maryland State Board of Education reported that three St. Mary’s County middle schools failed to make AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) this year. At Spring Ridge Middle School, 38.9 percent of African American students, 40.2 percent receiving free or reduced-price meals and 55.4 percent of stu-

dents in special education programs failed proficiency tests in reading. On the math test, 50.9 percent of special education students fell short. 50 percent of Special Education students at Margaret Brent Middle School failed to meet state standards for reading, and 50.6 percent tested below proficient in mathematics. Leonardtown Middle School students in special education programs tested below the state standard for reading proficiency as well, with 41.3 percent failing to meet state goals. This data ref lected subgroup shortfalls in student performance based on the state’s Annual Measurable Objectives.

with synthetic grass fields topping the upgrade list. SMCPS will assemble a committee that will be charged with the task of thoroughly studying the condition of the current athletic facilities at the high schools and deciding which facilities need the most repair, with a final report due next May.

County Asks for $750,000 Back (Oct. 15, 2009) The Board of Education was informed that because of state cuts the school system would be responsible for returning $750,000 to the county to help balance the budget for 2010. Schools Superintendent Michael Martirano said, “This is something of an anomaly right now, something we’ve never dealt with … where we have been told mid- year – not even mid-year – that we are responsible, in essence, for returning money to our funding source,” he said, presenting the Board with options on how to pull the money without harming existing programs. The Board ultimately decided to use money from the school system’s general fund balance, which totaled about $13 million, and compensate with adjustments to the school’s operating budget in FY 2011. “This way it has no disruption of operations and we’ll continue with business as usual,” said Martirano.

Community Mourns Lost Student (Nov. 12, 2009) Jordan Scott Paganelli, a senior at Leonardtown High School, enjoyed a moment of triumph before losing his battle with cancer when he was awarded an honorary diploma by Superintendent Michael

Evergreen Highlighted as Schools Open (Aug. 27, 2009) Superintendent Michael Martirano joined Board of Education Chair Bill Mattingly, Chief Operating Officer Brad Clements and County Commissioner President Francis Jack Russell for a whirlwind meetand-greet tour of Leonardtown Middle School, Leonardtown High School and Evergreen Elementary School, the first new school to be built in the county since 1981, and the first LEED certified green school to be built in St. Mary’s. The highlight of the Superintendent’s tour came later in the morning as his group arrived at Evergreen Elementary to find parents and students lined up in front of the school waiting to get inside. Clements said that the school system would use Evergreen’s design as a model for the elementary school that will be built on the Hayden property near Leonardtown in 2013.

SMCPS to Look Into Upgrading Athletic Facilities (Oct. 1, 2009) At the St. Mary’s County Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, Dr. Andrew Roper, director of physical education and athletics for St. Mary’s County Public Schools, presented a plan to the board that would take a very thorough look at improving athletic facilities at each of the county’s high schools,

Jordan Scott Paganelli (right)

Martirano and Leonardtown Principal David O’Neill at his home on Nov. 5, in the presence of friends and family who gathered to celebrate the occasion. “He fought a very courageous fight, and his struggle and this fight has very much defined our community in the past several weeks,” said Martirano in a statement. “It is never easy when we hear about the loss of any individual in our community. It is most difficult when we learn about the loss of life with one of our young people, because we think of our young people as our future and our hope and our light.” Paganelli passed away at his home on Nov. 9, five days before his 18th birthday.

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By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Glen Ives, retired navy captain and former commander of Patuxent River Naval Air Station, says that his last assignment may be the force behind St. Mary’s County’s still vibrant economy despite the national recession but its also a great connector of people and communities. “It’s not just about the economy,” said Ives, who lives with his wife Barbara in California, “The people who live here and work on the base they’ve got relatives who are in the armed services. On the Fourth of July you can see it.” Barbara, also a retired Navy captain, said that the base and the navy and contractor work forces act like a glue to the overall community. “It brings together those who are new to the area and those who’ve been here forever,” she said. “And it brings in new people with new ideas.” But the same things that have made the base so prosperous, growth of programs and employment, are the same things that made Ives’ command there a challenge from day to day. Finding enough space for all the programs and activities there was always a challenge, Ives said, and growth outside the base was always on his mind because it could interfere with flight operations if it was too close to runways. “The one thing we couldn’t afford to do was take our eye of the ball,” Ives told The County Times.

Ives said that the cooperation between the county and the base on growth, particularly the agreement they struck up during his command to consult on any encroachment issues has helped cement the lifeline between the two. Ives said that the relationship must continue if the county is to depend on the base for virtually 80 percent of the local economy. “If you don’t [support the growth] the mission will go elsewhere,” Ives said. That’s not the only challenge a base commander has at Pax River, he said. With so many people working on the base and spread out over such a large area, providing security is always a challenge. “That’s the thing you were concerned about as base commander, it’s always a challenge to have enough security folks,” Ives said, adding that the loss of the Marine Corp security detachment at the base to overseas commitments didn’t help matters. “You have 22,000 people and a lot of property there, so from day to day you’re going to have security issues,” Ives said, adding that an additional 300,000 people visit the base every year. Keeping the base up to environmental standards was also one of many tasks Ives dealt with, he said, especially along the shoreline. Ives said that during his command the navy spent $35 million ensuring that erosion didn’t take its toll on the shoreline. In recent years the navy has done more to

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Photo by Guy Leonard Capt. Glen Ives leads children from Patuxent River NAS daycare, the Hug-A-Boo Bears, in singing “It’s A Grand Old Flag” to commemorate the air station’s 65th birthday in 2008.

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Newsmakers

A live concert and CD release celebrating Tom Wisner’s life and work: “Follow on the Water: A Celebration of the Bay’s Life in Story and Song” will be held at the Calvert Marine Museum on Friday, Jan. 29. Wisner has dedicated his life to chronicling the rich traditions of our regional waterways. He will be joined on stage by local musicians and long-time friends and associates, Frank Schwartz, Teresa Whitaker, Mac Walter, and John Cronin, singer/songwriters and powerful performers. “This new production, Follow on the Water, is an ensemble of stories ‘to hear, to tell, to sing’,” says Wisner from his home in Calvert County. “They have been collected and crafted over years of interviews and through hearty friendships, culled from the energy of the earth and burnished by the Chesapeake sun. They are

Submitted Photo

The County Times

Thursday, January 7, 2010

A Celebration of Tom Wisner

the songs and stories of the sailing oystermen,” he says, “the sun-tanned, quiet breed of watermen whose lives are bound in the regional traditions to follow on the water.” Frank Schwartz grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and is the oldest of three sons of deaf parents. Having been a musician for most of his life, that journey continued when he married singer, songwriter, and storyteller Teresa Whitaker. They performed at the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival in Washington, DC, as part of a special honoring of the 25th anniversary of Tom Wisner’s Chesapeake Born album, along with friend and acoustic guitarist Mac Walter. Schwartz has two recordings: Things Have A Way Of Working Out and Below The Radar. Three-time WAMMIE winner Mac Walter is a versatile and dynamic master of the guitar. In the 1960s, Mac developed his unique fingerstyle approach to playing folk, rock, blues, jazz, and country. Mac and his cousin, John Cronin, began playing together as teenagers and developed their unique style over the past 35 years. The acoustic fingerstyle and harmonies they project together is amazing. Cronin, who lives in British Columbia, spent seven years working in the hugely popular Ian Tyson Band touring Canada and the USA. Tom Wisner, describes John’s playing as “the heart of the guitar.” Mac Walter and John Cronin have produced two CDs entitled Cousins and Second Cousins. Battling lung cancer for the last year, Tom Wisner has long been heralded as the “Bard of the Bay.” His vast repertoire of bay-oriented songs has been featured on national TV and forms a part of the Smithsonian Folkways Collection. Tom Wisner is the recipient of the 2003 John Denver award of the World Folk

Submitted Photo

A live concert and CD release celebrating Tom Wisner’s life and work is being held at the Calvert Marine Museum on Friday, Jan. 29.

Music Association. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 from the Chesapeake Music Institute. Since the 1960s, Tom Wisner has pioneered the use of original songs and stories to heighten awareness of the national treasure known as the Chesapeake Bay. With Dr. Sara Ebenreck of St. Mary’s College he co-founded the project CHESTORY: The Center for the Story of Chesapeake Life and Culture, designed to encourage artists of many disciplines to heighten awareness of Chesapeake Bay ecology and culture.

This musical tribute to our Chesapeake waters, watermen, and artists will also signal the release of Tom Wisner’s final recording, which will be available for sale that evening. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door and may be purchased at www.calvertmarinemuseum.com. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Seating is limited and advance purchase is recommended. For additional information and to purchase tickets, visit the website at www.calvertmarinemuseum.com or call 410-326-2042. Cash bar with beer, wine, and soda will be available.

The County Times

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Home Furnishing Tips to Consider Furnishing a new home or apartment is something to enjoy. Oftentimes involving a few fun trips to the furniture store to try out a new couch or armchair, buying new home furniture is one way to tailor a home or apartment in your personal image. When choosing home furnishings, many people simply want the most comfortable or most visually appealing piece they can find. However, there are other things to consider as well. • Personal opinion. Regardless of what’s in style, those about to purcahse new home furnishings need to go with the styles they like the most. More often than not, personal o pi n io n will

evolve as you go around to different stores and see just what’s available. Newspapers and home furnishing magazines can be a great way to educate yourself on the different styles to choose from. Once you’ve settled on a style, that should take precedence over price or other factors such as the latest trend. Furniture is a longterm investment that’s going to be around for a while, so make sure you purchase the furniture you like best. • Personal budget. The furniture you choose will also reflect how much you have to spend. Personal budget, however, does not necessarily have to dictate what you buy. Styles come at a variety of prices, with the materials used determining the price.

• Usage. How furniture will be used is also something to consider before signing on the dotted line. For example, a single woman or bachelor can afford to buy more upscale furniture because they’re less likely to have young children jumping up and down or spilling grape juice on the sofa. Parents, on the other hand, often look for something that’s stainresistant and can handle the wear and tear of the kids and the family pet. • Needs. Needs also play a big role when choosing furniture. Apartment dwellers don’t necessarily need as much furniture as someone in a home. While an apartment might be big, it’s important to remember that your next apartment might not be as big, so overdoing it with furniture could leave you holding the bag down the road.

Pearl and Crystal Jewelry Lights Up Any Bridal Style The elegance of pearls and the shimmer of crystal provide today’s bride with perfect jewelry options for any look from mod to Victorian. “Pearls have long been the jewelry of choice for brides,” says Jill Maier, Vice President of Design for CAROLEE. “Since pearls and brides comprise a large part of our business, we are constantly updating our designs to satisfy the tastes of today’s brides and bridal parties. White crystal, alone or with pearls, adds sparkle that makes a bride look even more luminous.” The trend in bridal gowns is toward strapless and bare shoulder styles, creating the perfect canvas for a statement necklace and earrings. Multistrand and Y-necklace silhouettes in pearl and crystal are a popular choice. These necklace designs can be paired with simple button or drop earrings.

“Some brides choose to make a statement with dramatic chandelier earrings alone,” Ms. Maier adds. “We have enhanced our selection of statement earrings with many ornate and high-drama styles with lots of movement and sparkle. In this scenario adding a statement bracelet is a good choice.” While bridesmaids’ jewelry should be different from the bride’s, it should harmonize in color and materials. If the bride is wearing pearls, her bridesmaids’ pearls might be bigger or layered. For crystal styles the attendants’ jewelry might be bolder to complement the simple lines of their dresses. To learn more about putting together your own personal bridal jewelry look, go to www.carolee.com. See photos and real life bridal jewelry stories at The Carolee Bridal Circle Photo Gallery. After your wedding, you can join The Circle and share your own story and photos.

DID YOU KNOW? Personal style and preference aren’t the only things that dictate certain wedding day decisions. In fact, a host of style guidelines exist to help brides and grooms make the right choices on their big day. For example, while a man might have a specific tuxedo style in mind for his wedding day, something such as the time of the ceremony can dictate which styles are appropriate. A morning ceremony, for instance, typically calls for a cutaway, or morning coat, with the ushers in matching strollers. For early afternoon ceremonies, however, it’s typical for men in the wedding party to wear tuxedos without tails. Grooms who really want to wear tails should only do so for ceremonies that begin after 4 p.m., as tails are considered too formal for ceremonies beginning earlier in the day. When wearing tails, a white vest and bow tie, but no cumberbund, is the traditional style. When planning a wedding, it’s best to keep in mind that tradition as well as personal style should dictatecertain decisions. To learn of any additional norms and traditions, consult a wedding planner.

The County Times

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Elliot Lawrence of the Mechanicsville Optimist Club presented Catherine DiCristofaro, Children’s Librarian at Charlotte Hall, a check to purchase LEGOs for the upcoming LEGO program to be held at Charlotte Hall. The program will be January 11 at 6 p.m. Children 6-12 can register.

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Business Countywide $20 Minimum Order $2.00 Delivery Fee

Submitted Photo

On December 23, the Rope N Wranglers 4-H Club donated more than 150 coats to the Three Oaks Center in Lexington Park that were collected during their Annual Coat Drive. Pictured are club members Mary Trossbach, Travis Trossbach, Tyelr Ledman, Shelby Sasscer, JC Trossbach, & Charlie Sasscer.

NARFE, Chapter 969 Luncheon

Fax 301-475-7169 oR Call 301-475-3354

Jan 13, 10 a.m., is the deadline for making reservations for the St. Mary’s County Chapter 969, National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) luncheon/ meeting. The luncheon/meeting will be held at Olde Breton Inn in Leonardtown, Friday, January 15. The cost of the luncheon buffet is $14.50. The social hour begins at 11:00 a.m. and lunch is at noon. Presentations will be made at the Janu-

ary meeting to Dorothy Flynn, Alzheimer’s Association & Kathy Franzen, Hospice of St. Mary’s. Reservations for lunch are required - call Judy Loflin, 301-872-0064. Members will be charged for the cost of lunch if reservations are not kept or cancelled by the deadline. If you are interested in only attending the meeting, it begins at 12:45 p.m.

The County Times

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Thursday, January 7

475-6999 or go to www.leonardtownrotary.org.

• So. Md. Mobile Compassion Center St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (Mechanicsville) – 10 a.m. Provides food, clothing and spiritual care to people in need. Basic need items are provided free of charge to those seeking assistance. Nominal donations for items are requested from visitors who can afford it. For additional information call 301-884-5184.

• Pax River Rugby Fundraiser DB McMillan’s (California) – 7 p.m. A $5 dollar wrist-band will get you drink specials all night. There will also be raffles which will include gift cards/certificates and a rugby jersey valued at $80. Newcomers and people interested in joining are welcome. For more information, go to www.paxriverrugby.com.

• Wing Night VFW Post 2632 (California) – 5 p.m.

• Texas Hold’Em Tournament – Saturday Night Special Park Bingo Hall (California) – 7 p.m.

• Am. Legion Post 221 Meeting AL Post 221 (Avenue) – 8 p.m. Open to all active duty personnel or veterans. Call 301-884-4071 or go to http://www.alpost221.webs. com/ for more information.

Friday, January 8 • So. Md. Mobile Compassion Center St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (Mechanicsville) – 10 a.m. • Fry Night VFW Post 2632 (California) – 5:30 p.m. • Special Olympics Deep Stack No Limit Tourney Center for Life Enrichment (Hollywood) – 7 p.m.

Saturday, January 9 • All You Can Eat Breakfast 8 to 11 a.m. Valley Lee Fire House Valley Lee, MD $8.00 Adults, $4.00 Children ages 5-12, Children under 5 - FREE Sponsored (and prepared) by the 2nd District Fire Dept. & Rescue Squad Auxiliary. • Winter Scrapbook Day Father Andrew White School (Leonardtown) – 9:30 a.m. Day includes lunch, dessert, and drinks plus door prizes & seat favor. Scrapbooking vendors will be available on site with products to purchase to help you get started. Here’s your chance to learn to scrapbook or to have a day away to work on your albums. Cost is $30 in advance or $40 at the door. Contact Kim Norris at 301-475-0147 or cmlady@md.metrocast.net to reserve your seat. • So. Md. Mobile Compassion Center St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (Mechanicsville) – 10 a.m. • Legendary Ladies of Song Great Mills High School – 7 p.m. Sue Matthews and a sextet of musicians from Wings Productions will be performing the music of three legendary ladies of song; Rosemary Clooney, Doris Day and Peggy Lee. Last of the five concerts for the season in the Leonardtown Rotary Performing Arts Series. For more information please call 301-

• Owl Prowl Myrtle Point Park (California) – 8 p.m. Meet outside the gate to the park at 8 p.m. Dress warm and bring a flashlight. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information call: Bob Boxwell: 410-394-1300 or Dudley Lindsley: 301-373-2551, email: dlindsley@ verizon.net.

Sunday, January 10 • All-You-Can Eat Breakfast The Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad Auxiliary is sponsoring and All-You-Can Eat breakfast from 7:30 to 11 a.m. at the Rescue Squad building on Route 235 in Hollywood, The menu will be: Sausage Gravy and Biscuits, Sausage Links, Bacon, Scrambled Eggs, Fried Potatoes, Pancakes, Escalloped Apples, assorted juices, coffee, tea and hot chocolate. The cost will be adults $8; children ages 5-12 years $4 and children under age of 5 are free. • Celtic Concert Series St. Mary’s Ryken High School (Leonardtown) – 7:30 p.m. Montreal based Québécois group, Genticorum, after a standing ovationperformance last year, returns to Leonardtown. Workshops from 2pm - 4pm will include: Yann Falquet, guitar accompaniment and alternate tuning; Alexandre de Grosbois-Garand, flute/pennywhistle; and Pascal Gemme, fiddle and feet. Admission $25. Order tickets online at http://cssm.org.

survey results from November meeting listing specific challenges facing local businesses. Coffee and light refreshments will be served. For additional information, contact Hans Welch, Manager, Business Development, DECD, at 301-4754200 x1407 or email hans.welch@ stmarysmd.com. • No Limit Texas Hold’Em “Bounty” Tournament St. Mary’s County Elks Lodge (California) – 7 p.m.

Tuesday, January 12 • 4-H Volunteer Training 21580 Peabody St. (Leonardtown) – 5 p.m. University of Maryland Extension Youth Development Volunteer Training. You must have this training in order to work with our youth in the county. 4-H includes sewing, robotics, engineering, flying, cooking, theater, science, math as well as small animals for pets and companions and livestock. Registration required. Call 301 475-4478. • Special Olympics No Limit Hold’Em Tourney Bennett Building, 24930 Old Three Notch Rd (Hollywood) – 7 p.m.

Wednesday, January 13 • Special Olympics No Limit Hold’Em Tourney Bennett Building, 24930 Old Three Notch Rd (Hollywood) – 7 p.m. • We need Members!! The regular monthly meeting of the Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad Auxiliary will be held at 7 p.m. at the Rescue Squad building on Route 235 in Hollywood. Anyone wishing to become a member of the Auxiliary is encouraged to attend. For more information, call 240-298-7956.

Alex

Monday, January 11 • Small Business Roundtable Lenny’s Restaurant (California) – 8:30 a.m. Agenda will include developing the Buy Local, Buy St. Mary’s campaign and a review of the tabulated

“Hi, my name is Alex and I’m an adorable five month old male Terrier mix. I’ve got enough personality for ten dogs! If you meet me you will fall in LOVE. I’m a very good puppy and I get along great with other dogs and small children. I’m very smart and learn new things very quickly. Could you be that perfect person to give me my furever home? I’m up to date on age appropriate vaccinations, neutered, crate trained, house trained and identification micro chipped. For more information, please contact SECOND HOPE RESCUE at 240-925-0628 or email lora@ secondhoperescue.org. Please Adopt, Don’t Shop!”

Retirement Planning and Investments Workshop Today’s ‘retirement’ is not the same as your parent’s retirement. Fewer and fewer employees are covered by an employer pension and the longevity of Social Security is in doubt. With life expectancies on the rise, tomorrow’s retirees will spend significantly more time in retirement and will rely more on their personal savings. Learn how to plan for a secure and successful retirement and avoid common retirement planning mistakes by understanding your sources of retirement income. The free Retirement and Investments Workshop topics will cover the allocation of investments in your retirement plans, understanding spousal benefits and the differences between IRA, Roth IRA and 401k, Required Minimum Distribution, and guidance on determining how much income a retiree can withdraw from savings. The Retirement and Investments Workshop is being presented in partnership with the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission and Wealth Management Partners, an independent financial planning firm located in Waldorf. No company products will be offered or recommended. The workshop is intended solely as a way for farming families and residents of Southern Maryland to become more informed about their retirement planning options. The workshop is free to the public and will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. in the SMECO Auditorium located at 15035 Burnt Store Road in Hughesville. Registration is requested. For more information and to RSVP please contact SMADC staff at (301) 274-1922. In case of cancellation due to inclement weather call (301) 274-1922 and enter 29 to hear a recording. For more information on related programs visit the SMADC website: www.somarylandsogood.com.

L ibrary

Items

• Children can build LEGO creations Space is still available at the LEGOs program at Charlotte Hall on Jan. 11. Children, ages 6-12 years old, will have the opportunity to build LEGO creations 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. Registration is required. • Story times resume the week of January 11 Daytime storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers will resume the week of January 11. A new Wiggle-giggle storytime will be offered on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. at Charlotte Hall. Children attending Lexington Park’s toddler story times from Jan. 11 through Jan. 25 are asked to bring a teddy bear with them to story time. A complete listing of story times and themes can be found on the Kids page at www.stmalib.org. • Options to pay college expenses to be discussed Tim Wolfe, Director of Financial Aid at St. Mary’s College, along with a local high school career counselor, will discuss the options available to help pay college expenses. The FAFSA form will be discussed. Leonardtown will host the free program on Jan. 20, Lexington Park on Jan. 27, and Charlotte Hall Feb. 3. All three programs begin at 7 p.m. No registration is required. • Friends of the Library annual brunch scheduled The public is invited to the Friends of the Library (FOL) annual brunch. It will be held on Jan. 23 at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Valley Lee and will begin with a breakfast buffet at 11 a.m. Guest speaker Ben Click, St. Mary’s College English Professor and Director of the Twain Lecture Series, will discuss “Mark Twain’s Advice: A River is Well Worth Reading and the Importance of Cigars, Whiskey and Swearing”. Reservations are due by Jan. 15. Call 301-737-2456 for more information. • Leonardtown Library hosts Home School Science Fair The Home School Science Fair will be held at the Leonardtown Library on Jan. 19. The public can view the students’ projects from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Students interested in participating should visit the library’s home school page from the Kid’s page at www.stmalib.org for an application and more details. • Family fun planned Families can enjoy an afternoon of gaming or a free movie on Jan. 25. Gaming fun will begin at 1:30 p.m. at Charlotte Hall. Leonardtown will show a 2009 PG movie at 2 p.m. This animated adventure follows a scientist who tries to solve world hunger only to see food fall from the sky in abundance. Snacks will be provided at each event.

The County Times

Thursday, January 7, 2010

A Journey Through Time The

Chronicle

By Linda Reno Contributing Writer William Stone was named the first Protestant Governor of Maryland in 1648. Governor Stone invited the Puritans, then living in Virginia, to take sanctuary in Maryland and about 300 settled along the Severn River. In 1652, the Puritans and William Claiborne joined forces, forcing Governor Stone to resign and took control of Maryland. On March 25, 1655, at the Battle of the Severn [the first naval battle on American soil], Governor Stone with a force of 130 Marylanders unsuccessfully attempted to regain control of the colony. Several Marylanders, despite the promised “quarter” in return for surrender, were executed. On April 15, 1655 Verlinda (Graves) Stone wrote to Lord Baltimore: “I am sorry at present for to let your Honour understand of our sad condition in your Province. So it is, that my Husband, with the rest of your Councell went about a month ago with a party of men up to Anne-Arundell County, to bring those factious people to obedience under your Government…Sunday the 25th of March they did ingage with the people of AnneArundell, and lost the field, and not above five of our men escaped; which I did conceive ran away before the fight was ended; the rest all taken, some killed and wounded; my Husband hath received a wound in his shoulder, but I heare it is upon the mending.

My Husband, I am confident, did not think that they would have engaged, but it did prove too true to all our great damages; They as I heare, being better provided then my Husband did expect… Captaine Heman was one of their Councell of War, and by his consent would have had all the Prisoners hanged; but after Quarter given, they tried all your Councellors by a Councell of War, and Sentence was passed upon my Husband to be shot to death, but [he] was after saved by the Enemies own Soldiers, and so the rest of the Councellors were saved by the Petitions of the Women, with some other friends which they found there; only Master William Eltonhead was shot to death, whose death I much lament, being shot in cold blood; and also Lieutenant William Lewis, with one Mr Leggat and a German, which did live with Mr. Eltonhead, which by all Relations that ever I did heare of, the like barbarous act was never done amongst Christians. They have Sequestred my Husband’s Estate, only they say they will allow a maintenance for me and my Children, which I do believe will be but small. They keep my Husband, with the rest of the Councell, and all other Officers, still Prisoners…They will not so much as suffer him to write a Letter unto me, but they will have the perusal of what he writes…. And they give out words, that they have won the Country by the sword, and by it they will keep the same, let my Lord Protector send in what Writing he pleaseth. The Gunners Mate of Hemans, since his coming down from AnneArundell to Patuxent, hath boasted that he shot the first man that was shot of our Party… Hemans the Master of the Golden Lion is a very Knave, and that will be made plainly for to appear to your Lordship for he hath abused my Husband most grossly.” Maryland was restored to Lord Baltimore in 1656 through appeal to Oliver Cromwell.

Men Who Fought Together in World War II Reunited (AP) – More than a half century after they marched across Europe together, two World War II veterans were reunited recently in a Baltimore County rehabilitation facility. Nathan Garrett and Kernie Thompson kept in touch after they both settled in Baltimore after the war, but they hadn’t seen each other in decades. They recognized each other immediately last month in the physical therapy room of Manor Care in Catonsville. The two old friends shared a room while they were both at the facility. “We went through a whole lot in Europe,” said Thompson, 84. “Garrett was a good soldier and a good friend.” They served in the Army’s 599 Ordnance Ammunition Company, an AfricanAmerican unit responsible for getting bullets and shells to the front lines, including during the D-Day invasion in Normandy, France, in June 1944. For about three years, they lived in tents in Belgium, Germany, France, the Netherlands and other countries. There were close calls, like the time German soldiers shot up a latrine just after Thompson had walked out. There were disturbing sights, such as animals blown apart by

land mines. “Those are things you never forget,” said Garrett, 90. “It was a frightening experience,” added Thompson, who is known as Tommy. “But the Lord brought us through.” Both men were discharged in 1946. Thompson, a Baltimore native, returned to the city. Garrett was born in rural South Carolina, but ended up joining relatives in Baltimore. He worked at Bethlehem Steel, as did Thompson for a time. Garrett worked as a laborer at the steel mill until 1981. Thompson had left the plant in 1957, but the two occasionally bumped into each other. Still, before the chance meeting at Manor Care, it had been decades since they last saw each other, the men estimated. In late December, Garrett began inpatient physical therapy for his chronic joint pain at Manor Care. In one of the rooms, he spotted a familiar face. Thompson was there to recover from recent knee surgery. “When Mr. Garrett saw his long-lost friend, it was like a 90-year-old man just turned into a child,” said Daniel Carper, another Manor Care patient who saw the reunion. “The whole place just stopped and watched them.”

Thursday, January 7, 2010

The County Times

w e i v e R k Boo “The Morning Show Murders” by Al Roker and Dick Lochte

c.2009, Delacorte Press

$26.00 / $32.00 Canada

By Terri Schlichenmeyer Contributing Writer One look in the mirror confirmed it: yep, you looked as bad as you felt. Cold, flu, or just some nasty bug? Didn’t matter. You croaked in sick to work, then hunkered down on the sofa beneath a warm blanket, with some daytime TV to sleep by. Could there possibly be a better place to recuperate? Did you ever wonder – once you felt better, of course - what goes on behind the scenes of those TV programs? In the new mystery “The Morning Show Murders” by Al Roker and Dick Lochte, Chef Billy Blessing works hard backstage on Wake Up America! but the chef’s goose is about to be cooked. Billy Blessing has his plate full. Folks across the country recognize him for his cooking segments on World Broadcasting Company’s Wake Up America! There’s a reality show in the works, and elite New Yorkers know Chef Billy by the signature dishes he serves in his restaurant. But Chef Billy hasn’t always been successful. His past is riddled with minor crimes and shady characters; so much so that it’s easy for the cops to make Billy the number one suspect when Rudy Gallagher, the network’s head man and Billy’s nemesis, is found poisoned. It didn’t help matters that the tainted food came from Billy’s bistro. But there are plenty of people who have reason to want Rudy dead. Gretchen, Rudy’s supposed-fiancée, doesn’t seem too mournful that her intended was killed. There are a lot of women who have been cozying up to Rudy – a new one every few days – and any one of them could be the murderer. And then there was that time Rudy was in a bar in Kabul, where he narrowly missed being in the middle of a bloodbath… When it becomes obvious that detectives don’t believe he’s innocent, Chef Billy goes in search of clues but soon wishes he hadn’t stirred the situation. Rudy Gallagher – and the other dead men that follow – was in plenty

Pinocchio is Italian for “pine head.”

Wanderings of an

312 pages

of hot water, and the evidence points to a mysterious international killer who calls himself “Felix the Cat”. And Felix is about to pounce on Chef Billy. Doesn’t it sometimes seem like every TV celebrity fancies him- or herself as an author? Guess what? Al Roker really is. “The Morning Show Murders” is a pretty decent whodunit with some nice plot twists and a few characters that are so unredeemable that you al-

most can’t wait to see them dead. I also thought it refreshing that Billy Blessing is a chef who happens to be on TV and just wants himself exonerated. Authors Al Roker and Dick Lochte didn’t make him out to be some parttime meddlesome detective wanna-be, and I liked that. My sole complaint about this book was the ripped-from-the-headlines tiresome Middle Eastern tie. Lately, it seems like every mystery / action novel contains one and – hello! – it’s getting stale. Still, if you’re hungry for a reason to stay up late, reading on the sofa, this book will do the trick. “The Morning Show Murders” is delicious fun.

un Fact

Aimless

Min “On the Eighth Day of Christmas…” By Shelby Oppermann Contributing Writer Boy, I really don’t want to take the rest of the Christmas decorations down. I’ve found that the more surfaces I cover with Christmas villages, greenery and berries, are less surfaces I have to dust. I keep putting the decorations out a little earlier each year. I’m hoping my husband won’t notice for a few years, but by the time we look like Christmas in Easter, he might know something is different. This is why there is Christmas in July. Another woman, at some point, figured out this trick as well. In fact we received a second series of a new Christmas village from two of our grandchildren. I was thinking of keeping them in the boxes, and then last Saturday decided no, I wanted them up too. Well, you can probably imagine that didn’t go over too good. My husband said, ”Why do you want to put out more stuff, when we are going to be taking all of it down this weekend?” I replied that we were still waiting to celebrate Christmas again on the 9th with our other two grandchildren. He said we could celebrate without all this “stuff”. Then said, “Don’t you remember in ”How the Grinch stole Christmas” that even after he stole all the Who’s whopaloopas and roast beast, that the Whos still celebrated just as before?” Wow, it was hard to argue with his scientific logic. But, the village went up. The Twelve (extra) Days of Christmas are not enough time for me. That’s when I have the time and energy to do all my Christmas projects…and then it’s too late. I always think this is the year I will start painting my Christmas ornaments early; start shopping earlier, and decorate earlier and better. I almost look forward to the Twelve Days of Christmas more; everyone is relaxed, and you still have plenty of parties to attend. You can give presents to everyone you couldn’t get together with before or on Christmas. And, It’s

a perfectly legal time frame with which to get your Christmas cards out. Oh yes, Christmas cards, how many days do I have left? Uh, oh, only until January the 6th. I never should have started that family newsletter 20+ years ago. I haven’t sent cards out in three years. I hope my family and friends know I love and appreciate them very much, in spite of this lapse. Maybe we can add a 13th and 14th day of Christmas. Of course, being the curios pup that I am, I began to wonder where the Twelve Days of Christmas idea began. I had looked it up 8 or 9 years ago, only to find out what night was Twelfth Night. It is actually the eve before the twelfth day. I thought it would be fun to have a Twelfth Night party. Never had it, so I forgot about it again, until now. In religious terms, it is a time including several feast days leading up to the baptism of Jesus, and the visit of the three Magi that proclaim Jesus is Lord: Epiphany. This is said to be “the beginning of the proclamation of the Gospel”. Some people have their homes blessed with Holy Water on the twelfth day. Then, Aha!! Upon researching a little further, I found that taking down Christmas decorations before the twelfth day was thought to bring bad luck upon your home for the rest of the year. Apparently tree fairies were brought in with the greenery, and would be fine for a few cold winter weeks, but, if left inside past the twelfth night they would create mischief. I don’t know how this figures in with an artificial tree, but I’m not willing to risk a bunch of crazed tree-fairies wreaking havoc inside my house. Now, I know the reason for every thing that goes wrong for us each year. I didn’t know it was so simple: just leave your Christmas stuff up until the proper day. I guess we can’t leave everything up until the 9th now, or the Grinch, the Whos of Whoville, and the tree-fairies will spend another crazy year with us. I think we will drive them crazy first. To each new day’s adventure, Shelby Please send comments or ideas to: shelbys. wanderings@yahoo.com.

Call 301-373-4125 to Subscribe Today!

The County Times

Thursday, January 7 K • David Norris DB McMillan’s (California) – 6 p.m.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

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.

Saturday, January 9 • Dave & Kevin Catamaran’s (Solomons) – 6 p.m. • DJ Blacky Lexington Lounge (Lexington Park) – 7 p.m. • Bent Nickel Anderson’s Bar (Avenue) – 8 p.m. • No Trace Blue Dog Saloon (Port Tobacco) – 8 p.m.* • Blackout Brigade Hotel Charles – front bar (Hughesville) – 9 p.m.

Friday, January 8 • David Norris DB McMillan’s (California) – 6 p.m. • Dave & Kevin Ruddy Duck Brewery (Solomons) – 7 p.m.

K • Roadhouse Band Martini’s Lounge (White Plains) – 9 p.m.

• Captain Woody Apehanger’s (Bel Alton) – 9 p.m. K • The Craze Big Dogs Paradise (Mechanicsville) – 9 p.m.

• Line Dancing / Solid Gold Entertainment Hotel Charles (Hughesville) – 7:30 p.m. • Comedy Night – Brian Lee, Roberta J and Greg Actually Fat Boys Country Store (Leonardtown) – 8 p.m. • Mike Mead Blue Dog Saloon (Port Tobacco) – 8 p.m. • Almost Kings Hula’s Bungalow (California) – 9 p.m. • Bone Drift Away Bar & Grill (Cobb Island) – 9 p.m. • Evil Cecil Apehanger’s (Bel Alton) – 9 p.m.

• Quagmire Scott’s II (Welcome) – 9:30 p.m. • Four of a Kind Cryer’s Back Road Inn (Leonardtown) – 9 p.m. • HY Jinx Hotel Charles – party room (Hughesville) – 9 p.m. • Karaoke with DJ Tommy T and DJ T Applebee’s (California) – 9 p.m. K • No Green JellyBeenz Hula’s Bungalow (California) – 9 p.m.

• Karaoke Night Club 911 (Mechanicsville) – 9 p.m. K • Nuttin’ Fancy Band Scott’s II (Welcome) – 9:30 p.m.

Wednesday, January 13 • Captain John DB McMillan’s (California) – 6 p.m.* • Wolfs Music Beach Cove (Chesapeake Beach) – 8 p.m.

*Call to confirm

• Roadhouse Band Martini’s Lounge (White Plains) – 9 p.m.

Email events to andreashiell@ countytimes.net. Deadline for submissions is Monday at 5 p.m.

n O g n i Go

What’s

For family and community events, see our calendar in the community section on page 21.

In Entertainment

‘Avatar,’ ‘Trek,’ 8 Others Score Nominations (AP) – Science-fiction scored big with the Producers Guild of America, with “Avatar,” “Star Trek” and “District 9” taking three of the 10 nominations Tuesday for the group’s top film honors. The group representing Hollywood producers also handed best-picture nominations to the animated blockbuster “Up,” the World War II hit “Inglourious Basterds” and the critical favorites “The Hurt Locker,” “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ By Sapphire,” “Up in the Air,” “An Education” and “Invictus.” The Producers Guild followed the lead of the Academy Awards and doubled its best-picture field to 10 nominees this season. “Up” also is nominated for best animated film, along with “9,” “Coraline,” “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and “The Princess and the Frog.” The guild picks typically are a good forecast for the eventual best-picture lineup at the Oscars, whose nominations come out Feb. 2. If Oscar choices run the same way, the show will gain the mass appeal organizers had sought to bring to Hollywood’s biggest party. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences doubled the best-picture field last summer, hoping to bring a broader range of films into the awards fold, including the sort of blockbuster fare the Oscars often have lacked in recent years. “The Dark Knight,” 2008’s biggest hit, earned a best-picture nomination a year ago from the Producers Guild but was overlooked for the top Oscar category. Its omission was cited as a factor in the decision to expand the best-picture field, Oscar organizers saying they felt there were more than five films deserving nominations. TV ratings for the Oscar show, on a general decline over the last few decades, usually climb in years when huge hits are in the running. The Oscars had their biggest audience ever when “Titanic,” the modern box-office king with $1.8 billion worldwide, dominated the ceremony 12 years ago. “Avatar” is “Titanic” director James Cameron’s first narrative film since then. The sci-fi epic has topped $350 million domestically and shot past the $1 billion mark worldwide, and it appears headed to the No. 2 spot in the record books globally, behind “Titanic.” The Producers Guild lineup includes four other big hits _ “Up” and “Star Trek,” both $200 million smashes, and “District 9” and “Inglourious Basterds,” which topped $100 million each. The other nominees present a mix of star power and critical raves. The recession-era comic drama “Up in the Air” has been an adult-audience favorite with plenty of box-office potential left and the celebrity appeal of star George Clooney. The Iraq War drama “The Hurt Locker” has dominated key honors from critics groups and did solid independent-cinema business. The teen dramas “Precious” and “An Education” and the South Africa tale “Invictus,” directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, also have been strong arthouse earners featuring some of the year’s most acclaimed performances. Other Producers Guild nominees: • Documentary: “Burma VJ,” “The Cove,” “Sergio,” “Soundtrack for a Revolution.” • Long-form television: “Georgia O’Keeffe,” “Grey Gardens,” “Little Dorrit,” “Prayers for Bobby,” “The Prisoner,” “Taking Chance.”

The County Times

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Business

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Deadlines for Classifieds are Tuesday at 12 pm. To Place a Classified Ad, please email your ad to: classifieds@countytimes.net or Call: 301-373-4125 or Fax: 301-373-4128 for a price quote. Office hours are: Monday thru Friday 8am - 4pm. The County Times is published each Thursday.

Classifieds Real Estate A spacious, mid-level(no steps) 2 bedroom, one full and one half bath condo in a great location with private balcony w/view of trees. Ceremic flooring in kitchen and new tile floors in both baths. Close to base, county transit stop. shopping,school, playgrounds, parks with swimming pool access available. Very quiet neighborhood-great for children and small pets. All electric appliances. If interested, call @301 373 8462. Price: $169,900. 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. Wooded 3.1 acres perc’d lot, ready for clearing and building. Cul de sac street at the end. Nice area close yet private. Great area of upscale homes.NAS/NAWC/ Webster field all with in 15 minutes. Price: $140,000.

Real Estate Rentals 12’ X 12’ office space for $275 per month. Available immediately. On second floor of professional office building directly across the street from the Courthouse. Internet access and all utilities (except phone) included. No lease required. No security deposit required. Fax and copier available. Price: $275.

Angie Stalcup

Independent Consultant #0096976 240-561-5840 • alstalcup@gmail.com www.tastefullysimple.com/web/astalcup

301-737-0777 Heating & Air Conditioning “THE HEAT PUMP PEOPLE” 30457 Potomac Way Charlotte Hall, MD 20622 Phone: 301-884-5011

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Help Wanted Busy Hughesville Accounting Firm seeking Accountant to work Wednesdays, Fridays and the occasional Saturday. Pay commensurate with experience. Ideal candidate would have experience with Word, Excel, Peachtree, Quickbooks and Taxwise. Individual, Business and Payroll tax preparation experience a must. Please e-mail resume to ksamsaccounting@verizon.net

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Photography

Photographer

Winegardner Pontiac Buick GMC in Brandywine is currently hiring for the Sales Department. No experience required, we will provide training. Please contact Mark or Phil for an interview...301 372 8900 or pwatson@winegardnerauto.com

Vehicles 2004 Ford F-250 4x4 Super Duty Standard Cab 60K Miles Full Service Record. $13,500 OBO. 240-538-3667.

Creating your Digital Memories

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The County Times will not be held responsible for any ads omitted for any reason. The County Times reserves the right to edit or reject any classified ad not meeting the standards of The County Times. It is your responsiblity to check the ad on its first publication and call us if a mistake is found. We will correct your ad only if notified after the first day of the first publication ran.

The County Times

1. Back talk 5. WordPerfect’s home 9. Cambridge river 12. Invests in little enterprises 13. Dull and weary 15. Muslim mystic 16. 1440 AM Elizabethtown, NC 17. Dried stalks of grain 18. Abba ____, Israeli politician 19. 1st big internet server 20. Small handcart for food service 22. 23rd Greek letter 25. In bed 26. Plateaus 28. Talk 29. Don’t know when yet 32. Lower limb 33. Nothing (Latin) 35. 4th Caliph of Islam 36. 50 state republic 37. Exchanges for money 39. Unhappy 40. Connective word 41. Greek fable author 43. One and only 44. Z___: Greek god

Last Week’s Puzzles Solutions

ner

KiddKioer

CLUES ACROSS

Thursday, January 7, 2010

45. Package, abbr. 46. Tears down 48. Youngest family member 49. Asbestos containing material 50. No. Balearic island 54. Swiss river 57. A particular region 58. Allium vegetable 62. Fill too tightly 64. Fergie’s Duchy 65. City in N. Zambia 66. LA Laker Bryant 67. Not new 68. Cesspit 69. Quick draught

CLUES DOWN

1. Point midway between S and SW 2. “Mama Mia” group 3. Cylindrical storage tower 4. Head skin coverings 5. ___tetrics: midwifery 6. Decay 7. Stray 8. Often served with spaghetti 9. Largest West Indies island

10. From a distance 11. Coin manufacturer 14. Ridiculed student 15. Time unit 21. In the year of Our Lord 23. Diego or Francisco 24. Egyptian goddess 25. With quicknesss and ease 26. Legal term for middle 27. Mild exclamation 29. Small amount eaten 30. Boredom 31. Military assistant 32. Hawaiian feast 34. Taenias 38. Porzana carolina 42. Political action committee 45. Breakfast meat 47. Slaps 48. Atomic #35 50. BLT condiment 51. Fald____: gimcrackery 52. Geek 53. Acorn tree 55. Beside one another in a line 56. 3rd or 4th Islamic month 59. Informal debt instrument 60. Proteus anguinus 61. Short sleep 63. Actress Ryan

Thursday, January 7, 2010

1/8-13/09 Fri., Jan. 8 Boys’ Basketball Great Mills at Huntingtown, 7 p.m. St. Mary’s Ryken at Archbishop Carroll, 7:30 p.m. Girls’ Basketball Huntingtown at Great Mills, 6:30 p.m. Archbishop Carroll at St. Mary’s Ryken, 7 p.m. Ice Hockey St. Mary’s Ryken vs. La Plata at Capital Clubhouse, 5 p.m. Leonardtown at Bowie, 7 p.m. Swimming Leonardtown at Lackey, 7:30 p.m. Wrestling St. Mary’s Ryken at Northern Tournament

Sat., Jan. 9 Boys’ Basketball Archbishop Curley at St. Mary’s Ryken, 6 p.m.

Mon., Jan. 11 Boys’ Basketball Chopticon at Glen Burnie, 6:45 p.m. Calvert at Great Mills, 7 p.m.

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

Tues., Jan. 12 Boys’ Basketball St. Mary’s Ryken at DeMatha, 7:30 p.m. Girls’ Basketball Elizabeth Seton at St. Mary’s Ryken, 7:30 p.m. Ice Hockey St. Mary’s Ryken vs. Bowie at Tucker Road Ice Rink, 5 p.m. Wrestling Thomas Stone at Chopticon, 7 p.m. Great Mills at Northern, 7 p.m. Lackey at Leonardtown, 7 p.m.

Wed., Jan. 13 Boys’ Basketball Chopticon at Lackey, 7 p.m. Great Mills at La Plata, 7 p.m. Leonardtown at North Point, 7 p.m. Girls’ Basketball Lackey at Chopticon, 6:30 p.m. La Plata at Great Mills, 6:30 p.m. North Point at Leonardtown, 6:30 p.m. Swimming Calvert at Great Mills, 5 p.m.

Wed., Dec. 30, 2009

Girls’ Basketball

Boys’ Basketball

Southern Maryland Holiday Tournament

Snowball Classic St. Mary’s Ryken 62, Southern Garrett 40

Consolation Game Chopticon 44, La Plata 40

Southern Maryland Holiday Tournament

Championship Game Great Mills 38, Leonardtown 29

Consolation Game Chopticon 58, Walter Johnson 45

Sat., Jan. 2

Championship Game Leonardtown 57, Great Mills 52

Boys’ Basketball St. Mary’s Ryken 63, St. Albans 52

The County Times

Ravens Already in Playoff Mode as Postseason Opens

By DAVID GINSBURG AP Sports Writer

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) – The Baltimore Ravens didn’t have the luxury of coasting into the postseason, a circumstance they hope will work to their advantage Sunday against the New England Patriots. On a day in which several playoff-bound teams rested their starters during meaningless games, the Ravens were locked in a win-or-else mode Sunday against the Oakland Raiders. And, because Baltimore (9-7) was not assured a victory until the closing minutes, coach John Harbaugh never did get a chance to pull his regulars. That might be a good thing. A year ago, the Ravens won their final regular-season game to gain entry as a wild-card team. They then hammered Miami on the road and upset top-seeded Tennessee before losing to Pittsburgh in the AFC title game. Can the same formula work to Baltimore’s benefit a second time? “I think that will kind of all shake out,” Harbaugh said Monday. “There’s something to be said for coasting in, because obviously you’ve earned the right to do that. There’s an advantage to that, and there’s an advantage to fighting your way in. If you look at the history of who’s won the championship, it’s come from both places, right?” Historically, the Ravens have fared better when forced to extend themselves to the very end of the regular season. They won their only Super Bowl after finishing the 2000 season as a wild-card team. They also won a game as a wild-card team in 2001. But, after winning the AFC North in 2003 and 2006,

Baltimore failed to win even once in the postseason. So, in a way, the Ravens are exactly where they want to be. “We’re in the same position as last year, where we had to win the last couple of games,” running back Willis McGahee said. “Once we get in there, we know we can do damage. And now we’re in there.” McGahee scored three touchdowns, and the Ravens began their own version of the playoffs with a 21-13 win over the surprisingly spirited Raiders. “It was a tough situation,” Harbaugh said. “Making the playoffs is tough. Going across country in a game where obviously so much is at stake for one team and not for the other, it’s a little different stakes. I thought our guys handled the pressure really well and got the job done.” Baltimore reached the postseason because of its ability to beat teams with losing records. The Ravens went 6-0 against clubs that finished below .500, and they also defeated Denver, which closed at 8-8. There will be no more of those patsies on the schedule, and Baltimore went 1-6 against teams that made it to the postseason. New England, in contrast, was 2-3 in those games (including a 27-21 win over Baltimore on Oct. 4). Advantage, Patriots? “That gives them an edge going into this game, I guess,” Harbaugh said. “But every week stands on its own. That’s the beauty of it.” Although this game is a rematch of Week 4, Harbaugh guessed the earlier meeting will probably have no bearing on this one. “It was a long time ago,” he said. “We’ve changed, they’ve changed. There are different players out there for both teams.”

Redskins Meet With Shanahan After Firing Zorn By JOSEPH WHITE AP Sports Writer ASHBURN, Va. (AP) – The Washington Redskins moved quickly in their pursuit of Mike Shanahan on Monday, flying in the former Denver Broncos coach on the same day the team fired Jim Zorn. Shanahan and wife Peggy landed at Dulles International Airport near Redskins Park in mid-afternoon and were driven away in a limousine to meet with owner Dan Snyder and general manager Bruce Allen. Snyder planned for Shanahan to stay overnight at the owner’s house in Maryland, and a formal hiring announcement could come as early as Tuesday. Shanahan’s arrival was the highlight of a long, eventful day as the Redskins sought a new direction after a 4-12 season. The first move came in the pre-dawn hours, when Zorn was dismissed during a meeting in his office with Allen after the team’s cross-country flight following a 23-20 loss to the San Diego Chargers on Sunday. “It’s real clear that we’re going to be aggressive,” Allen said. “What we’re looking for in a head coach is somebody who can lead these men that we had in our locker room this year to levels they’ve haven’t played through before.” Shanahan won two Super Bowls in 14 seasons with the Broncos. He was fired a year ago after Denver missed the playoffs for the third straight season. Shanahan would be expected to bring his son, Houston Texans offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, with him to Washington. While the Redskins weren’t making any announcements about a hiring, Texans coach Gary Kubiak spoke as if a Shanahan tandem in D.C. was virtually a foregone conclusion. “Obviously it looks like Mike’s coming right back in the business here real quick, and I know it’s something he’s al-

ways wanted, to work with his son,” Kubiak said. “I’d be the same way.” Zorn went 12-20 over two seasons and lost 18 of his last 24 games after a 6-2 start in 2008. The Redskins struggled early this season despite a weak schedule and finished with their worst record since 1994. “The status quo has to end,” Allen said. “We have to change the way we’ve been doing some business. ... Last place two years in a row is not Redskins football.” Zorn’s replacement will be Washington’s seventh coach since Snyder bought the team in 1999. The Redskins are 82-99 on his watch, missing the playoffs in eight of 11 seasons. Zorn’s dismissal had been expected for months. The front office stripped him of his play-calling duties in late October, and Snyder interviewed assistant coach Jerry Gray for the job weeks ago, according to the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which monitors minority hiring in the NFL. Neither Snyder nor Zorn was made available to reporters. It didn’t help that the front office didn’t give Zorn a solid roster. The offense line was aging and lacked quality depth. Jason Campbell was undermined by attempts to acquire other quarterbacks. Former first-round picks Carlos Rogers and LaRon Landry have been disappointments. Running back Clinton Portis looked worn down by years of wear and tear. Injuries to several key players compounded the problems, and 12 players finished the season on injured reserve. The new coach, Snyder and Allen therefore have a monumental rebuilding task ahead of them. The Redskins will have the No. 4 overall pick in the draft, but the Redskins need more than one college stud to right the ship. “Maybe some of our greatest improvements,” Allen said, “is our players who are already on our roster playing better.”

The County Times

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Captains, Schedule Announced for Seahawks Men’s Lacrosse

Second-year head coach Chris Hasbrouck announced the team captains for the 2010 campaign Monday afternoon as well as this season’s St. Mary’s College of Maryland men’s lacrosse schedule. This year’s captains will be returning All-America selection, senior Ryan Alexander (Laurel, Md./Pallotti); senior Ryder Henry (Washington, D.C./St. John’s College); and junior Bobby Cooke (Ellicott City, Md./ Mt. Hebron). Hasbrouck said, “These are three outstanding young men who epitomize what the St. Mary’s lacrosse program is about - commitment, effort, and intensity. All three have a great work ethic and have developed into excellent leaders.” A 6-0, 205-lb midfielder, Alexander returns for his final season as a three-time first team All-Capital Athletic Conference selection and 2009 AllAmerica honorable mention. He has been an offensive threat for the Seahawks all three years, gaining 2007 CAC Co-Rookie of Ryan Alexander

the Year honors after leading the team with 37 goals and 10 assists. Last season, Alexander finished third in scoring with 32 points (21g, 11a) and could become the program’s first-ever fourtime All-CAC selection as he was named a preseason second team All-America pick in Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Yearbook 2010. Henry, a 6-3, 200-lb long-stick midfielder, is coming off a dominating season in which he garnered first team All-CAC honors after leading the Seahawks with 18 caused turnovers and finishing Ryder Henry third with 39 groundballs. Cooke, a 5-11, 195-lb midfielder, is a workhorse in the middle of the field and brings a wealth of talent and experience as a two-year starter. He was fifth in scoring with eight goals and 12 points a year ago while scooping up 23 loose balls. “I have no doubt they will do a great job of leading us through an extremely demand-

Seahawks’ Franz Wins Two Top Player Honors St. Mary’s College junior guard Alex Franz (Catonsville, Md./Cardinals) was selected by both the Capital Athletic Conference and PrestoSports/Pride of Maryland as the player of the week for the week ending January 3 after Franz garnered MVP honors at The Car Coop/Weenie Miller Holiday Hoops and helped No. 25 St. Mary’s College of Maryland men’s basketball to a four-game win streak.

Alex Franz

Bobby Cooke

ing schedule as we look to continue to build on the successes of last season in our pursuit of an NCAA tournament berth,” added Hasbrouck. In Hasbrouck’s first season, the Seahawks finished with an 8-7 overall record and second in the CAC standings, earning Hasbrouck 2009 CAC Coach of the Year honors. “I feel that our schedule will go a long way to helping us achieve our goal of competing for the CAC championship and securing an NCAA bid,” commented Hasbrouck. “Our conference has become extremely competitive and demanding so it was important to play as difficult a non-conference schedule as possible. These are all great opponents and we are looking forward to the beginning of the season,” explained Hasbrouck. The path to the conference championship looks bright as the Seahawks return eight of last year’s top 10 scorers as well as eight of 10 starters. This group of returners helped the program registered its first win over Salisbury University in 32 years last season, earning them the second seed in the CAC playoffs and a first-round bye.

Franz shares CAC Player of the Week honors with York (Pa.) College sophomore forward Paul Kouvaris who earned MVP honors at the Hampton Inn Coaches vs. Cancer Classic hosted by York. The Seahawks (10-2) notched a pair of wins at the Puerto Rico Division III Classic in San Juan, defeating Susquehanna University (72-66) and Universidad Metropolitana (71-51), before capturing The Car Coop/Weenie Miller Holiday Hoops with victories over Averett University (69-64) and host Hampden-Sydney College (70-69). In Puerto Rico, Franz contributed 12 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and five steals against Susquehanna and then followed up that performance by adding nine points versus Metropolitana. Franz averaged 18.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 6.0 steals as the Seahawks captured team honors at The Car Coop/Weenie Miller Holiday Hoops hosted by Hampden-Sydney. Franz reaped MVP laurels as he registered a doubledouble with season-highs of 21 points and 10 rebounds and added seven assists and seven steals before draining the gamewinning three-point field goal in the final 12 seconds in the one-point win over the hosts in the title contest. Franz started tournament action with 16 points and game-highs of seven assists and five steals while pulling down a teambest six caroms in the team’s come-frombehind win over Averett. Franz is currently ranked 14th in Division III in assists per game with a 5.8 average while ranking 15th with 3.8 steals per game.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

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The County Times

Cannon Picks up 100th Win as Braves Sweep Tri-Meet By Chris Stevens Staff Writer MORGANZA – In helping keep the Chopticon wrestling team unbeaten this season, senior Stephen Cannon achieved an individual milestone Tuesday night. With his pin of Great Mills’ Will Anderson in the 160-pound match, Cannon registered his 100th career win as the host Braves swept a trimeet with Huntingtown (41-31) and Great Mills (78-6). “It feels awesome, I’ve been waiting a long time, and a lot of good wrestlers reach that milestone,” he said. “I’m just thankful for God’s help all these years.” “He hasn’t lost a match this year, you can count on him and his brothers for 18 points every match,” Braves head coach Dane Kramer. The Braves jumped out to an early 32-7 lead over Huntingtown, but the Hurricanes registered three straight pins to pull within seven points. In the 142 pound match, junior Taylor Koncen stopped the bleeding with a decision to give the Braves three much-needed points and the victory. “Coach told me that was a big match, that gave us an advantage,” Koncen said. “[Huntingtown] had a pin right before that match and the guys were a little down. We had to get them hyped up.” Koncen’s decision paved the way for the 41-31 win, and the Braves collected eight pins in their second match of the evening against the Hornets, who are building slowly but surely under first year head coach Ben Gill. “The guys are still scrapping, like I told them, Chopticon is a different animal with the depth and experience they possess,” Gill said. “If we can keep guys healthy and together along with some new kids, in a couple of years, we’ll be back in business.” Business was good for Great Mills junior Kevin Norris, who registered pins in both of his 147pound matches on the evening, using an unusual move to help him earn victory. “I used the head lever and the hammer lock, which is part of the same series,” Norris explains. “We’ve got to win. It’s embarrassing to lose by that much, so you’ve got to come out and wrestle hard.” For Norris, one of the younger guys, he believes that the Hornets will see the results of their hard work in time. “We just have to improve for the most part,” he says. “We have a lot of new guys and we’ll be better next year.” For Chopticon, their goal is clear: The Class 3A dual meet championships, and with a strong brotherhood amongst the wrestlers, Taylor Koncen believes they can reach that goal. “We’re more united this year,” he says. “I consider everyone on this team as brothers. It’s not just a team, it’s family.” chrisstevens@countytimes.net

Photo By Frank Marquart

Robert Newton of Chopticon split his 287-pound matches as the Braves remained unbeaten by sweeping Huntingtown and Great Mills in a trimeet Tuesday night.

Photo By Frank Marquart

Chopticon’s Cody Reiter was victorious in both of his 105-pound bouts on the evening.

For All Your Real Estate Needs.

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Will Anderson of Great Mills keeps a hold of a Huntingtown wrestler.

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The County Times

Thursday, January 7, 2010

The Year in Sports –

With the first half of the year out of the way, the summer brought us plenty of softball, stock car racing and Southern Maryland Blue Crabs success. Once summer was over, fall sports took center stage at the high schools, highlighted by a very improved football team, a state champion runner, and one high school rallying around one very special young man.

July

Softball highlighted the month of America’s independence, as varying age levels strived for success, reaching tournament championships. The St. Mary’s All-Stars 12 and Under team won the Maryland State Championship and earned

The State Champion St. Mary’s All-Stars

Submitted Photo

the right to play in the Eastern Region Tournament in Albany, NY. On the high school level, St. Mary’s AllAmerican, made up of some of the County’s top players, gave Waldorf all they could handle before losing a 5-4 decision in extra innings in the regional championship game on July 14 in Brandywine. Another major story was the ongoing saga of Youth Football with the central Photo By Chris Stevens St. Mary’s All-American pitcher Tiffany Kennedy

SMYFL player Jordan McGee

Photo By Casey McClean

players being Pigskin, the Pax River Raiders and the newly-formed Southern Maryland Youth Football League. With several leagues and very little direction, the Southern Maryland Coaches Association was formed, hoping that high school coaches from the area would provide stability and instruction for these programs.

September

August

The month kicked off the annual Lawnmower Races at Bowles’ Farms in Clements, with local racer Jason Brown winning two races during the weekend. The weekend also saw 9-time USLMRA National Champion Bobby Cleveland, also known the Engine Answer Man, visit the track to answer questions and display his famous Monster Mower, the mean machine that help him set the land Submitted Photo speed record (81.725 MPH) in 2006.

National Lawnmower Racing Champ Bobby Cleveland

The high school kids returned to the practice fields during the month, with St. Mary’s Ryken starting a week ahead of the county’s public schools, who started pre-season practice August 15. Optimism was at an all-time high for several teams in different sports who believed they could compete for state and WCAC championships. Also, Budds Creek hosted the Lucas Oil Pro AMA Motocross Championship Series at the end of the month, with Davi Milsaps, Christophe Pourcel, Chad Reed and Brett Metcalfe claiming victories in the 250 Photo By John Hunt and 450-cc moto events. Local Chopticon strength coach Joe Ballenger riders, including Eric McKay, Kenny Day, Robert Kraft, Stephen Stella and Randall Everett also made appearances at the track, attempting to qualify for the motos over the course of the weekend.

The high school sports season got back into full swing and it kicked off with a surprising victory. It may not have been the prettiest of wins, but after 20 straight losses, the Great Mills football team could celebrate a win. The Hornets’ 6-0 victory over Thomas Stone on September 4 was the Hornets’ first win in two full seasons, an emotional experience that only served to motivate the team further.

Photo By Chris Stevens

Great Mills quarterback Brian Jenner

Also in football, the St. Mary’s Ryken football team found a temporary home while waiting for its brandnew stadium to finish construction. The Knights rolled to a 40-0 victory over Mt. Zion Baptist Academy on September 11 at Lancaster Park, picking up their first win of the season and

Photo By Chris Stevens

St. Mary’s Ryken quarterback Chris Rixey

their first as a home team. The Leonardtown field hockey team got of a quick start in Southern Maryland Athletic Conference play, blanking Great Mills 3-0 to move to 4-0 in SMAC play to start the season. Closing out the month, St. Mary’s County Public Schools director of Physical Education and Athletics Andrew Roper announced a study would be taking place to research the need and cost of turf fields at the three public high schools in the county. Eric McKay

Photo By Karl Cin

Leonardtown’s Hayley Ross

Photo By Chris Stevens

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The County Times

Thursday, January 7, 2010

July to December

November

October

The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs concluded their second season by making their first appearance in the Atlantic League Championship series, falling to the Somerset Patriots three games to one. One year after missing the playoffs by one game, the Blue Crabs won both halves of the Liberty Division, finishing with a 79-61 record overall.

Chopticon’s Sarah Jenkins

The Chopticon field hockey team also had a successful start to the 2009 season, winning their first six games on their way to an 8-4 record and the top seed in the 3A South Region playoffs. However, the season ended in heartbreak as Northern, the eventual region champion, edged the Braves 4-3 in double overtime of the quarterfinal match. Leonardtown, top-seed in the 4A East region, also was upset in the quarterfinals and Annapolis defeated Photo By Chris Stevens them 4-0.

The Leonardtown boys’ soccer team concluded a fall season dedicated to Leonardtown student Jordan Paganelli by advancing to the 4A East Regional finals, losing to Broadneck 1-0. All of the Raider teams banded behind Paganelli, who lost his battle with cancer on November 9, wearing “Team JP” t-shirts into battle and dedicating their efforts to them, making the entire community proud of the school and its students.

Photo By Chris Stevens

Leonardtown’s

The Leonardtown girls’ soccer team won their second conShawn Medinski secutive SMAC title, clinching the championship with a 5-1 victory at North Point on October 20. Wicomico Shores hosted the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference golf tournament, with all three county schools finishing in the top five. North Point was the runaway winner of the Photo By Chris Stevens tournament. In women’s Leonardtown forward Teresa Paz softball, there was a new champion crowned as Southern Insulation defeated defending champion Just Us Chopticon also had three games to one to claim the County title. a reason to be proud as senior Tyler Ostrowski won the Class 3A cross country championship on November 14.

Photo By Frank Marquart

Jordan Paganelli’s football jersey

Photo By Frank Marquart

Chopticon’s Tyler Hall Photo By Frank Marquart

Finally, Leonardtown’s Jessica Gass won the SMAC girls’ individual cross country race, while the Raider boys and girls earned the team titles.

3A Cross Country Champion Tyler Ostrowski of Chopticon

St. Mary’s County Women’s Softball Champ Southern Insulation

Photo By Chris Stevens

December

Capping the year was the 80-pound Mechanicsville White Braves of the first-year SMYFL going to Baltimore to take the Maryland State Youth Football Division Four championship, capping a perfect 14-0 season in which they outscored their opponents 385-7. Also, the County Times handed out its first male and female athlete of the year awards, going to Chopticon’s Tyler Ostrowski and Leonardtown graduate Brittany Culpepper for their achievements on the state level and Cross Country and Swimming respectively. Photo By Frank Marquart

Leonardtown’s Jessica Gass

Mechanicsville White Braves, state champions

For the January through June 2009 Year in Review, Check Out Last Week’s Issue!

Submitted Photo

THURSDAY January 7, 2010

Pinning Down Another Win

Page 29

County Has No Plans to Raise Property Taxes

Story Page 5

Photo By Frank Marquart

Youth Shelter Plan Fizzles Story Page 6

A Celebration of Tom Wisner â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s Endeavors Story Page 18