The County Times -- February 18, 2010

See Page 16, and 17 for CouPon SPeCialS!

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Thursday, February 18, 2010

A Greer FAmily leGAcy

Ed GrEEr AccEPts ObAmA-APPrOvEd APPOintmEnt tO PEntAGOn PAGE 16

State, county Have Different ideas on land Preservation Story Page 4

School System To Absorb millions of Dollars in cuts Story Page 14

The County Times

e H i r h l oom s i m A

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Thursday, February 18, 2010

Your Paper...

Your Thoughts In the wake of fatal crashes as a result of police chases or high-speed responses, should there be a law restricting how fast police can t ravel in their cars?

“You shouldn’t have a high-speed chase because first of all you don’t know what can happen because if you’re driving at a high speed chasing somebody, you don’t know if somebody is walking because you’re so concerned on just getting that person,” said Tamikia Posey, of Lexington Park. “They just shouldn’t do it, it’s too dangerous, especially if they’re already going fast and you’re going fast behind them.”

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Jimmy Rosa of Charlotte Hall said he’s crossed on whether there should be a law. “It’s like a 5050, because you want them to get caught, but if there’s a law where the cops can’t go fast, everybody’s going to run,” said Rosa.

“Sure there should be a law because people are getting killed, but then everybody’s going to do it. It’s bad people got killed, but it doesn’t happen everyday.”

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The County Times

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Rotary member Steve King, former director of MetCom, helps haul cement used in a rural water system project in Honduras. SEE PAGE 6

Weather

Watch

“We have a true structural deficit and they have to come to the table with options to close it. If money they don’t it’s a Sterling Swan, chef at Cap’n Randy’s Steak and greets customers during the restaurant’s complete wasted Seafood, grand opening Feb. 12. SEE PAGE 8 opportunity.”

- Todd Eberly, political science professor at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, talking about the state budget.

sports stock market

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

The Hornets’ Earl Castain and Basil Moye (52) surround Leonardtown’s Toddrick Daniel during the first half of Tuesday nights’ boys’ basketball game. SEE PAGE 29

On T he Covers

ON THE FRONT

Ed Greer, center, with his wife Phyllis, stands with his siblings, Rick Greer, top left, Brenda Edwards, bottom left, and Kathy Steele. Members of the Greer family have been working PAX NAS for 60-plus years.

ON THE BACK Camontae Griffin’s 22 points led the Seahawks to a 7573 win over Wesley Tuesday night.

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County News Editorial/Opinion Money Defense and Military Obituaries Crime and Punishment Education Cover Newsmakers Community Community Calendar Columns Entertainment Games Sports Desk Basketball St. Mary’s College Sports News

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James Manning McKay - Founder Eric McKay -Associate Publisher..................................ericmckay@countytimes.net Tobie Pulliam - Office Manager..............................tobiepulliam@countytimes.net Sean Rice - Associate Editor.....................................................seanrice@countytimes.net Angie Stalcup - Graphic Artist.......................................angiestalcup@countytimes.net Andrea Shiell - Reporter - Education, Entertainment...andreashiell@countytimes.net Chris Stevens - Reporter - Sports......................................chrisstevens@countytimes.net Guy Leonard - Reporter - Government, Crime...............guyleonard@countytimes.net Sales Representatives......................................................................sales@countytimes.net

The County Times

ews

Thursday, February 18, 2010 In the 1930's, Pepsi-Cola had an advertising campaign starring two cartoon cops called "Pepsi & Pete."

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un Fact

State, County Have Competing Ideas Conservation Group Opposes Oyster Bills Over Rural Land Preservation

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

State officials want the county to do more to preserve rural land from development but local officials say that the county’s approach, which allows greater density of homes in the rural preservation district, actually preserves more land than would the state’s plan of having just one house per 20 acres.

It’s a source of continual frustration between the county and the state officials at the Maryland Department of Planning, they say.

In a letter dated February 5 to county land use director Derick Berlage, the state expressed concern that the county was not doing enough to preserve rural land by including in the state-mandated Priority Preservation Area (PPA) only those parcels that were 25 acres or greater.

The PPA would include rural and agricultural land out-side of the county’s development districts; already about 80 percent of the county’s land is in the rural preservation district.

The state wanted smaller parcels to be included in the plan so that development would not spring up without rural buffers so close to preserved land, said Donna Sasscer, an agricultural preservation specialist with the county.

The recent back-and-forth between the state and county underscores an is-

sue, she said, that the state does not like: that transfer of development rights can be used in the rural preservation district to build homes there.

Sasscer said that it was an example of the state continuing to involve themselves more and more in local land use decisions.

“We’re not unique,” Sasscer said.

“All of the counties are being put through this review of the PPA,” she said.

Sue Veith, the county’s environmental planner with the Department of Land Use and Growth Management, said that only now is the state beginning to understand how the county’s administration of the transfer of development rights process works; the state’s one dwelling per 20 acres recommendation, she continued, would not preserve as much land as the county’s more dense one house on five acres strategy.

“The one-in-20 zoning does not put land under permanent easement protection,” Veith said, explaining that under the county’s policy, the more density there is in housing in the rural preservation district, the more land has to be put under protection to get approval for those dwellings.

“It [the preserved status of the land] can’t be changed for subdivision later,” Veith explained.

The state mentioned in the letter that they understand the program but they still have reservations.

“We understand how the TDR program will increase the number of acres preserved, but… it will do little to keep the intrusive impacts of development out of the preserved landscape.”

Berlage said that the recent letter was actually something of a positive development because the state had fewer concerns about the county’s methods for reaching their preservation goals than before.

“It was not an outright rejection of our PPA plan,” Berlage said. “I look at their requests as more like tweaking.”

Berlage said that the task ahead was to convince the state that the county’s way was the best way.

“Over time we’ll preserve nearly half of the county’s acreage for either rural or agricultural use,” Berlage said.

“Be patient, watch what the TDR program can do.”

Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly (D-Leonardtown) said that the most recent letter is one in a long line of criticisms of the county’s land use policy and that it represents the state’s desire to exert more authority over local decision making.

The mandate for a PPA he said represented a “narrow minded attitude and an unwillingness to work with local government.” guyleonard@countytimes.net

The Coastal Conservation Association Maryland (CCA MD) this week is presenting testimony before the House Environmental Matters Committee against four bills that the group says would harm oysters in the Chesapeake Bay. The CCA MD is presenting testimony against the following legislation: • House Bill 218 “Natural Resources – Oysters - Dredge Devices”; • House Bill 154 “Patuxent River – Oysters - Use of Patent Tongs”; • House Bill 284 “County Oyster Committees- Public Shellfish Fishery Area- Power Dredging”; and • House Bill 303 “Natural Resources- Oyster Harvest- Closure of State Waters”.

The CCA MD, representing 1,700 members, is supporting legislation that would allow the Department of Natural Resources to take stronger action on license holders who break laws, reports Scott McGuire, president of the local group.

“These bills all fly in the face of efforts to restore a healthy population of oysters in the Chesapeake,” McGuire said. “Promoting status quo or worse while the Bay’s oyster population remains at one percent of its historic abundance is not in the interest of the public.”

Presenting testimony on Wednesday, McGuire urged the committee not to advance HB 303, which would detail Governor O’Malley’s recently-presented Oyster Restoration and Aquaculture Development Plan along with the Maryland Oyster Advisory Commission recommendations and an Environmental Impact Statement developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“This bill directly contradicts Governor O’Malley’s plan that would significantly increase Maryland’s network of oyster sanctuaries and increase areas open for aquaculture-based production,” said McGuire. “Instead, it promotes harvest in public waters, despite a scientific consensus that this is a failed strategy of the past.”

The other three bills opposed by CCA MD would increase the use of “destructive fishing techniques” such as power-dredging and the use of patent tongs.

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Thursday, February 18, 2010

The County Times

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Today’s Newsmakers In Brief On the county wanting to pursue its own method of rural land preservation instead of state recommendations. “[The TDR program] will be extremely effective in preserving rural land.

Let us do it in our own way.”

Derick Berlage, director of the Department of Land Use and Growth Management

On the decision to open Leonardtown government Friday after the snow storm.

“We had a lot of things to do like working on the comprehensive plan and First Friday. I said to staff if we can get out we need to open.”

Leonardtown Mayor J. Harry Norris

County Still House GOP Will Offer Cuts At “Unprecedented” Budget Hearing Tabulating Cost Of

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer During a legislative session when most cannot remember the state being in such dire fiscal condition, House Republican leadership now says they will attend a special hearing to offer their ideas for cutting spending and trimming the budget, despite appearances that the offer to do so might be a political setup.

House Minority Leader Anthony O’Donnell and House Minority Whip Christopher Shank wrote letters last week to Sen. Ulysses Currie, chair of the Budget and Taxation Committee as well as Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller and Speaker of the House Michael Busch, expressing concern that the hearing was rushing the process before the state’s Department of Legislative Services had had a chance to fully analyze Gov. Martin O’Malley’s fiscal 2011 budget.

Still the leadership is faintly hopeful that they can use the hearing which O’Donnell called “unprecedented,” as a chance to again voice their opposition to the administration’s spending policies with options for cuts.

“We have cut, cut, cut, yet we’ll need to make additional cuts so we’ll need other ideas,” Del. John Bohanan

of Maryland, said that Republicans must go into the meeting armed with specific proposals for budget cuts and must come up with a plan that could actually be palatable to the majority.

“We have a true structural deficit and they have to come to the table with options to close it,” Eberly said. “If they don’t it’s a complete wasted opportunity.”

O’Donnell has said in the past that no programs – including education – should be immune from cuts this session, and former majority whip and now Democrat candidate for governor George Owings agrees with him.

But he said that the hearing set for next week could just as easily be an opportunity for majority Democrats to make the Republicans look like they are in favor of slashing key programs.

That’s something they would have to try and avoid, Owings said.

“It bodes well for the majority party to do this,” Owings said.

“I hope it’s not politically motivated. I hope it is a real give and take and that all sides are listened to.”

Del. John Bohanan (D-Dist.29B) said that despite billions already being cut from the budget and more than 3,000 state positions being eliminated more cuts were needful and so were fresh ideas.

“We have cut, cut, cut, yet we’ll need to make additional cuts so we’ll need other ideas,” Bohanan said, adding that O’Malley’s budget was a balanced one as per state constitutional law.

O’Donnell said he welcomed the opportunity to put up his party’s ideas for consideration but he was realistic about the chances for those options in a highly partisan legislature.

“I’m not holding my breath that they’re going to accept our recommendations,” O’Donnell said. “But maybe this shows they’ve acknowledged they should’ve been listening to us all along.”

In the current budget climate, Eberly said, cutting once untouchable budget centerpieces like education and health was now possible.

That meant that if Republicans present what seem like substantial cuts to those programs, the Democrats might not have much choice but to listen.

“You’re not going to balance the budget on natural resources of public safety. Health and education are where the money is,” Eberly said. guyleonard@countytimes.net

The senate GOP caucus has declined to take part in the hearing.

“It’s never been done before,” O’Donnell said. “It’s unprecedented.”

O’Donnell said that the mood in Maryland was much different than the one reflected in the governor’s budget.

“We believe this is an opportunity for us to express where the budget can be trimmed,” O’Donnell said. “The people are tired of ever expanding government spending.”

O’Malley’s budget presents about $2 billion in cuts to deal with the state’s sinking revenue situation while politicians foresee even greater deficits down the road.

But that same budget has been criticized by state GOP officials as using one-time fund transfers and money from the state’s capital budget to offset budget gaps.

Todd Eberly, political science professor at St. Mary’s College

“We believe this is an opportunity for us to express where the budget can be trimmed,” Del. Anthony O’Donnel

Snow Removal

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer County government is still analyzing just how much it cost to remove and plow all the snow that hit in last week. Already the county has spent more than $300,000 to remove snow and the costs may grow higher.

Karen Everett, county spokeswoman, said that the county may seek Federal Emergency Management Administration funds to reimburse what the county spent, since the snow storm that blanketed much of the state earned a disaster designation from Gov. Martin O’Malley.

The county could only apply for that money, though, if it had exact totals, she said.

“There’s no totals yet,” Everett said.

The county government offices also got back to work Tuesday after being closed nearly all of last week and Monday for the President’s Day holiday.

Everett said that the decision to keep county government closed for five days despite most roads being cleared was due to concerns over structural safety for buildings.

On Feb. 9 the Patuxent Building at the governmental center in Leonardtown was evacuated after the roof began to sag from the weight of the accumulated snow and one day later their was a complete collapse of a portion of the roof at the Loffler Building at Chancellor’s Run Regional Park. “[The Friday closure] was so the county could complete a thorough survey of all the buildings,” Everett said. “We based the judgment call on concerns with other buildings around the county.”

While only two government buildings showed problems with their roofs, other private businesses like defense contractor Lockheed Martin as well as a storage facility experienced collapses as well.

County Administrator John Savich said there was still much to do to completely clear the county of wintry precipitation.

“I known we still have work to do to fully respond to the entire county, but we have made significant progress,” Savich said. “This was a unique and historic storm.” guyleonard@countytimes.net

The County Times

Thursday, February 18, 2010

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ews Local Rotarians Help Bring Fresh Water To Honduran Villagers

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer For the past several years local Rotary Club chapters have pitched in to help international organizations build simple yet sustainable fresh water systems to villagers living in remote mountain areas of Honduras, and now the last two of 10 projects have been completed.

Steve King, local member of the Leonardtown chapter and former director of the county’s Metropolitan Commission, said that the water systems now provide fresh water to about 3,000 people who for their entire lives have had to deal with disease and unsanitary conditions.

King has traveled to the remote Macala region in the Central American country several times to help advise and train villagers in how to build and maintain the new systems.

The results have been positive, he said.

Photo Courtesy of Steve King “Because of this more houses villagers dig a trench to lay a pipeline for a new fresh water have started springing up and more Honduran system. people are moving in,” King said of the small villages. house.”

The entire budget for the rural water sysThe effort put into creating the systems was tems, funded and built with the aid of the Interna- immense, King said, with villagers providing tional Rural Water Association and Peace Corps their own labor and hauling materials up steep volunteers, is only $75,000, King said, but has slopes. only cost about $48,000.

“Some of the conduction lines [to the vilThe rest of the money, King said, has been lages] are five kilometers long,” King said. used to build new latrines for the Hondurans for Villagers also agree to raise funds after the even more community sanitation. first year of operation to buy their own chloThe water systems are built by the villag- rine and materials to maintain the system; a loers themselves with guidance from advisors like cal council administers the agreement and even King, he said, and are simple gravity feed affairs comes up with a fee structure each person pays that take water from a high mountain stream or into, King said. spring and collect it in a nearby storage tank.

Maintaining the system is simplified, King That water once stored in the tank and treat- said, by using materials and supplies the villagers ed with chlorine goes through a connector pipe have available locally. leading to the village that allows residents to get “You can go to the hardware store and get water from individual spigots near their homes. local materials to make repairs,” King said.

“These are more primitive [systems than in the United States,]” King said. “But that comguyleonard@countytimes.net munity now has safe drinking water and each

Photo Courtesy of Steve King Honduran children use old, donated microscopes from St. Mary’s County schools to look at water-borne parasites to emphasize the importance of clean water.

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The County Times

Thursday, February 18, 2010

A Message From St. Mary’s Schools Superintendent

Editorial:

We Will Call Them Out Every Time

Several weeks ago, the political tag team of Larry Jarboe, Rich Johnson, Dan Morris, and Randy Guy formed by the notorious character assassinator Ken (Laden) Rossignol, and his associate Larry Jarboe found themselves embroiled in character assassination. We called them out on it in our editorial of February 4th. Since then, they have continued the vicious and vial attacks on St. Mary’s Countians who they believe threaten their plan to control county government and hundreds of millions in taxpayer’s dollars.

As individuals, independent of the political power play which they find themselves lured into, we believe Rich Johnson, Dan Morris and Randy Guy are good people who want the best for their county. We have no reason to believe otherwise. However, they made a grave mistake when they fell for the honey that the Ken(Laden)/Jarboe bee’s nest spews.

The three newcomers to county commissioner races should have stood on their own, as every other candidate does, proclaimed their personal policy views, explained themselves individually, and let the Republican voters decide who should be the Republican “team” to challenge the Democrats in the fall general election.

Instead, their strategy to pre-empt the primary process will leave the Republican party divided and full of infighting. One could almost think that was the strategy all along, given the groups history of allegiance to the Democratic party.

The truth is, they probably believe in the populist rhetoric which their mastermind leaders are using in an attempt to gain control of county taxpayer dollars. The problem is, they

are adults, and cannot disavow themselves from the company they keep. Therefore, even if their intentions are noble, they must be held accountable individually for the way their “team” conducts itself.

And their team is conducting business as usual, using lies, distortions, and general character assassination, through their mouthpiece Ken(Laden) in a reckless and untruthful way, attempting to destroy the public image of anyone who may be a threat to their plan which would give them unchecked control over your tax dollars.

They are making false accusations about political leaders of both parties who are unwilling to succumb to Ken(Laden)’s demands and those who pose a threat to their takeover of county government. These recent false accusations range from false claims about sweetheart deals with developers to false claims about “illegal campaign donations”, all of which is par for the notorious Ken(Laden)/ Jarboe duet who have recently found themselves a quartet.

It may be difficult for some to believe this type of insidious politics exists in our beloved county, yet it does. One of the principals which The County Times founder believed in when he founded this newspaper was the need for an independent voice that would inform the people of St. Mary’s County about this type of political abuse. We hold true to our founder’s dedication to political truth in our community.

As so, it matters not the political party or ideology of any politician, when the public interest is threatened by contempt for good and honesty, we will call them out – every time.

Local SHA Office Does an Outstanding Job The following is a letter from Delegate John F. Wood to Stewart Dement, Resident Maintenance Engineer for the State Highway Administration.

Dear Mr. Dement: Another day cannot go by without my taking the opportunity to praise and to thank you and all the dedicated employees – road crews, mangers, office workers, and each private contractor for your outstanding response during the recent historic snowfalls and extreme road conditions in St. Mary’s County.

You all are to be commended for your untiring service to provide or others and their safety.

In my travels after the storm, I could not help

To The Editor:

but notice the excellent surface conditions of the roadways in St. Mary’s County as compared to some of the other counties.

People can be quick to criticize but slow to give credit when a job is well done. You and your team and the private contractor are to be given a resounding round of applause for outstanding service and commitment to duty.

Again, thank you for all that you do for the citizens of St. Mary’s County, it is at times like these when everyone pulls together with neighbor helping neighbor that I realize just how fortunate and proud I am to be a resident of St. Mary’s County.

Sincerely, John F. Wood, Jr.

How About Real Issues Instead of Political Parroting I am writing in response to a letter to the editor in the Feb. 4 issue entitled “The People Have Spoken” by Jack Hughes.

Mr. Hughes starts the article with “The people of Massachusetts have spoken…by electing Scott Brown”. I do not know why the people of Massachusetts elected Scott Brown. Because he is now a member of the United States Senate I hope he was elected because he was the best candidate.

Personally I listen to the people of Southern Maryland. We do not need to follow the people of Massachusetts or be reminded to be courageous.

In Southern Maryland we stand up every election and do not consider it an act of courage but a fulfillment of our patriotic responsibility.

Mr. Hughes goes on to write “take the country back from our senators and congressmen”.

I don’t have the vaguest idea what this means. Does it mean small-

To date, schools have been closed 10 days for weather related issues. It has been an incredible winter and it is not over yet. All of that said, I want to assure the community that all decisions to close schools for weather related matters are made with the first and foremost thought of keeping our children and staff safe.

Much thought and work goes into the deliberations about these kinds of decisions and they are not taken lightly. To that end, our primary goal is to return our educational operations to a level of normalcy.

As schools open again, large piles of snow will remain on the sites of our schools. This may result in limited parking spaces and reduced visibility for drivers of cars and busses.

I am asking for patience and extreme caution as individuals drive on school properties and near our bus stops. Please keep an eye out for our students who you may not be able to see because of the height of the large piles of snow.

We need to be extra cautious.

Additionally, if at all possible, I am asking parents and community members to shovel out bus stops so students are not standing in the streets.

During the last week, our public schools have been inspected, on a regular basis, for any damage that the snow may have caused and this includes each roof. I am pleased to

report that all of our buildings have survived with no structural or internal damage.

I personally want to thank all of our building service, maintenance and operations staff who worked tirelessly to shovel and remove all of the snow from our parking lots and sidewalks. Specific thanks go out to Bowles Farm, LLC and Larry Hill and Sons Excavating, Inc. who worked with us to remove the heavy snow from our parking lots and sidewalks.

Additionally, I will be working with the Board of Education to develop a plan for any days that we need to make-up. Each school system in the state of Maryland is waiting on guidance from the State Superintendent of Schools for the first piece of information regarding waivers that is needed to develop this plan. You can trust that I will communicate this information to the community once it is finalized.

In conclusion, I want to thank our parents, students, teachers, staff and principals for their patience and flexibility during this most unusual time. We will get the educational program back on track, this I can promise you.

Dr. Michael Martirano, Superintendent St. Mary’s County Public Schools, Leonardtown

New Government Jobs Do Not Count as Job Creation EVERY new government job regardless of the title does NOT add one iota to the productive employment picture. How is that possible? The answer is simple. When a person is hired into the government structure, who pays that person? That’s right… we do with our tax dollars. What does that new government-hire produce? NOTHING. You say, “oh, come on now! The guy or gal must be producing something…” Nope!

Sorry to disillusion you, but that new hire will add not one dollar to growing our economy.

Why? Because the transfer of our tax dollars from our ability to buy something, invest in something, or hire someone to make or build something to instead pay for a person to shuffle papers or force us to comply with some nitwit’s unnecessary law simply does not grow the economy.

So what, if any, benefits accrue from hiring more people into the government? That answer is also kind of simple. The primary benefit of increasing the size of government is the purchase of votes. Just ask yourself – and be honest, now – if you have been hired into an organization where it is almost impossible to be fired (thank you, Postal/Police/Federal Employee/ et al unions), where you get almost automatic raises and/ or promotions based not on merit but longevity, then would you honestly vote for someone who promised to cut

er government?

Should we downsize military and federal installations in Southern Maryland? Should we cut Social Security and Medicare?

If it means “states rights” should the power go to the governor or state legislators?

Should more power be given to the Mayor and City Council of Washington D.C.? What powers are going to be taken from Congress, where are they going to go and how will it affect me?

I am as concerned as the next person about issues ranging from immigration to our government spending (except for snow removal) but Mr. Hughes’s letter seems to be taken from a political party election manual.

Maybe we need to take some power back from the political party’s spin masters and go back to debating issues on their merits. May I suggest a few issues worth debating?

They are:

the size of the government? If you say yes, I have a feeling not many people would believe you.

So, bottom line… most government employees know where their bread is buttered. They will vote for the people who gave them their job. And you better believe the inpower politicians know this and it’s one of the main reasons Ol’ Bammy wants to add some 2,000,000-yes, two million – more people to the government payroll.

Think about that, people! Our government is growing like a mushroom and we’re letting it happen. This is February. November, 2010 is only nine months away. We have a chance to put some people in Washington D.C. who know the value of a dollar – probably because at some time in their life they had to earn one. Let’s find those people and vote them into office. And let’s make sure they understand that if they get to Washington D.C. and suddenly become overwhelmed with a sense of power, we’ll kick their butts out again when they come up for reelection.

Our politicians have got to learn: They work FOR US; We do NOT work FOR THEM. James Hilbert Mechanicsville, Md

A. Our tax policy B. Our spending habits C. Our security D. Our health E. The future of our children (especially their education) F. Energy G. Immigration Mr. Hughes’s letter mentioned Pelosi and Reid. What about Bush and Cheney? We just lost an entire decade during which either the Republicans or the Democrats controlled both the White House and the Congress.

Might I suggest we study and debate the issues and make up our own minds by Election Day instead of parroting bumper sticker slogans from political parties.

Jerry Howie Hollywood, Md. property owner

for the love of

Money

The County Times

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Yahoo the complex internet organism has complicated name. Word "Yahoo" is shortcut for "Yet Another Hierarchical Officious Oracle". It was coined by PhD candidates at Stanford University

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un Fact

Cap’n Randy’s Celebrates Grand Opening Company

Wal-Mart Harley Davidson Best Buy Lockheed Martin BAE Systems Computer Science Corp.

Dyncorp International Inc. General Dynamics Corp.

Mantech International Corp.

Northrop Grunman Corp.

Symbol

Close 2/17/2010

Close 12/31/2008

WMT HOG BBY LMT BAESF CSC DCP GD MANT NOC

$54.13 $24.42 $36.26 $76.39 $5.40 $52.07 $11.75 $70.06 $46.19 $59.87

$56.06 $16.97 $28.11 $84.08 $5.41 $35.14 $15.17 $57.59 $54.19 $45.04

Change

-3.44% 43.90% 28.99% -9.15% -0.18% 48.18% -22.54% 21.65% -14.76% 32.93% Cap’n Randy’s Steak and Seafood celebrated a grand opening on Feb. 12, introducing Chef Sterling Swan and their family-friendly menu, which includes an “all you can eat” menu on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5-9 p.m. Pictured is Owner William Stewart, left, and General Manager Karen Boecher with Chef Swan.

“Savor St. Mary’s” Second Meeting

“Savor St. Mary’s” is an initiative to bring together locally-owned restaurants, caterers, food service providers, wineries and growers to create special menus prepared with ingredients fresh from area farms, waterways and vineyards.

The next meeting will be on Monday, March 1 from 7-9 p.m. at Lenny’s restaurant in California, MD; www.lennys.net.

Occurring twice each year, “Savor St. Mary’s” will feature a seasonal line-up of items locally grown and produced as presented through the creative interpretation of area restaurants. Kicking off this summer from July

25-August 8, 2010, “Savor St. Mary’s” will highlight fresh seasonal produce. The 2011 event will be February 15-28 and will emphasize local seafood and wine.

This is a gathering of possible participants and is intended to be a planning session as well as to encourage partnerships between area restaurants and growers who are now preparing for summer demand. There is no fee for attending and all are welcome.

For information on how to participate in “Savor St. Mary’s” contact Rebecca Deprey, Tourism Coordinator, 301-475-4200, Ext. 1404 or Rebecca.Deprey@stmarysmd.com.

New Quest Office Holds Ribbon Cutting

Photo by Sean Rice On Tuesday afternoon, county and Chamber of Commerce officials celebrated the ribbon cutting of Quest Diagnostics on Miss Bessie Drive in Leonardtown. The new patient service center does blood work and other specimen lab work as required for local doctors. Until opening in Leonardtown on Feb. 1, the closest Quest office was in Waldorf. Pictured from left is county business development manager Hans Welch, Quest group leader Patricia Murphy, Quest supervisor Diane Trossbach, phlebotomist Karen Hatcher, Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors Dan Parker and Carolyn Huff and Bob Schaller, director of economic and community development for St. Mary’s County.

Guy Curley Picked As President of Maryland-National Capital Building Industry Edward “Guy” Curley, III president of Liberty Home Builder, Inc., a residential constr uction and development firm in Great Mills, was installed as the 49th President of the MarylandNational Capital Building Edward Curley Industry Association (MNCBIA) during an event at the Bethesda Marriott in Bethesda.

Delegate Anthony J. O’Donnell, Minority Leader, Maryland House of Delegates conducted the installation.

MNCBIA’s jurisdiction includes Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s Counties in Maryland and Washington, DC. The major focus of Curley and MNCBIA will be on increasing the Association’s strength and influence throughout the region and expanding opportunities for affordable homeownership.

Curley’s goals as he heads into what is shaping up to be another tough year for the building industry, encompass a number of

important factors including, continuing to advocate on the major state issues, ensuring that MNCBIA’s grassroots lobbying efforts are maximized at the local and county levels, educating government and the public on the importance of housing as a key public policy objective and building the Association’s membership base.

In Calvert County, Jim Kettler, owner and operator of Kettler Brothers Homes, LLC, was installed as Vice President/Calvert County of the MNCBIA. Maryland Delegate John F. Wood, Jr. conducted the installation.

The MNCBIA is a regional organization of 600 building and development companies representing the interests of more than 15,000 employees of the building industry and its affiliated professional and service firms operating in the Maryland counties of Calvert, Charles, M o n t g o m e r y , Jim Keller Prince George’s and St. Mary’s and in the city of Washington DC. For more information visit www.mncbia. org.

St. Mary’s Hospital Laboratory Center in Lexington Park Has Moved

St. Mary’s Hospital Laboratory Center in Lexington Park has moved to a new facility, allowing for a broader range of services to the community. The laboratory center is now located by the Chesapeake Charter School at 20945 Great Mills Road, Suite 202, in Lexington Park.

The laboratory offers expanded hours at its new location and is now open Mondays

through Fridays from 7 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1– 5 p.m. To contact the Lexington Park location call 301-866-1464.

St. Mary’s Hospital Laboratory Center offers hundreds of lab tests to assist with diagnosis and treatment, performs corporate drug screenings and serves as a collection site for other labs, such as Quest and LabCorp. In addition, the hospital’s laboratory center will

provide chain of custody testing for companies with a contract.

The laboratory center at Lexington Park is one of three county locations. St. Mary’s Hospital also has laboratory centers in the Belmont Building on Moakley Street in Leonardtown and at the hospital’s Express Care Center on Market Drive, beside Golden Beach Road in Charlotte Hall.

All of the hospital’s laboratory centers are accredited by the College of American Pathologists and most major insurance plans are accepted.

For more information about the services provided by any of the St. Mary’s Hospital Laboratory Centers, call 301-475-6133.

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Thursday, February 18, 2010

X-47B Unmanned Jet Systems Being Integrated at Sea

An artist’s conception of the X-47B long-range unmanned aerial vehicle on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier.

Northrop Grumman photo illustration

Personnel from the Navy Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) program team and industry partner Northrop Grumman Corporation are underway aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) to test the integration of existing ship systems with new systems that will support the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D).

This effort will reduce program risk and is one of many steps toward the X-47B’s first carrier arrested landing or “trap.”

The X-47B will be the first unmanned jet aircraft to take off and land aboard an aircraft carrier. With a 62ft wingspan and length of 38ft, the X-47B is about 87 percent the size of the F/A-18C aircraft currently operating aboard Navy aircraft carriers.

The UCAS-D effort is focused on developing and demonstrating an aircraft carrier suitable, low observable unmanned air system in support of persistent, penetrating surveillance, and penetrating strike capabilities in high threat areas. The effort will evolve technologies required to conduct launch, recovery, and carrier controlled airspace operations and autonomous air refueling. By 2013, the Navy plans to achieve UCAS aircraft carrier demonstration; achieve hybrid probe & drogue and boom/receptacle AAR demonstration; and evaluate and identify technologies supporting future naval capability requirements.

Mark Pilling, a former naval flight officer with operational unmanned aircraft experience, is the team’s mission operator. He and his team are charged with verifying mission operator software between the ship and aircraft.

“This is the first step in the X-47B’s integration into the carrier’s systems,” said Pilling.

The team is testing X-47B software integration by using a King Air turbo prop “surrogate” aircraft taking off and landing from shore. As the aircraft approaches the carrier, it performs the same types of procedures as manned aircraft.

However, since the X-47B is unmanned, digital messages from shipboard controllers will be used to control the aircraft instead of verbal instructions. In response to the digital command and control messages, the plane’s software confirms, complies and sends a “wilco” signal back to the controllers and mission operator.

“Over the last two at sea periods on Lincoln, we have integrated into a number of the ship systems, from PriFly, to CATCC, to the LSO platform,” said Pilling.

Janice Stolzy, the Northrop Grumman project lead, is on board to verify that the prototype equipment works in a realtime operational environment. Stolzy said successful system testing on Lincoln will set the stage for additional developmental testing later this year, including testing the software integration using an F/A-18 surrogate aircraft to more closely emulate the X-47B’s flight path.

John Zander, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) lead test engineer, said a prime benefit of a UCAS concept is to reduce the risk to human pilots.

“This is an important milestone for the Navy and we’re making great strides on board Lincoln,” said Zander.

Additional UCAS-D development activities are underway at multiple NAVAIR and Northrop Grumman sites throughout the United States. First flight of the X-47B is expected later this year.

The County Times

The County Times

Jean Bain, 72

Jean Marie “Jeanie” Bain age 72 of Park Hall, MD died on February 15, 2010 at her residence. Born April 14, 1937 in Providence, RI, she was the daughter of the late Otto and Helen Gendreau Radtke. She was the beloved wife of Robert William Bain whom she married on April 27, 1957 in North Scituate, RI. They were married for 52 years and had three sons; Robert Scott Bain of Oakville, MD, Keith Allen Bain of Frederick, MD and the late Todd Christopher Bain. She is also survived by her sister Karen Louise England of Decatur, AL as well as seven grandchildren.

Jeanie graduated from Central High School in Providence, RI “Class of 1955” and moved to

Chesapeake Beach, MD on May 2, 1966. She worked part time as a substitute teacher and specialized in remedial reading. She was a hospice volunteer and later a Eucharistic Minister serving with Fr. Francis Walsh of St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, tending to the sick and dying of the parish. Jeanie was an avid reader and thoroughly enjoyed her birds, her dog, playing the piano and she also belonged to the Rhode Island Honor Society.

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

All services were private. Condolences may be left to the family at www.mgf h.com. Arrangements provided by MattingleyGardiner Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.

Robert Evans, 61

Robert Charles “Bob” Evans, 61 of Valley Lee, MD passed away on February 9, 2010 at his residence.

Born June 7, 1948 in Leonardtown, MD he was the son of the late Charles F. Evans of St. James, MD and the late Teresa I. Evans of Leonardtown, MD. Bob served in the U.S. Navy from 1967 to 1971. Bob was a cable splicer for Bell Atlantic, retiring in 1997, after 30 years of service. He was a Heritage Log Home dealer/builder. His most recent business was owning and operating LaGrande Resort RV, Inc. Bob’s community involvement included past president of Sanner’s Lake Sportsman’s Club, and membership in the St. Mary’s County Chamber of Commerce. He was a former house captain for Christmas in April and later an advisor to Christmas in April for many years, where he was often sought after for help and advice.

Bob was an active member of First Saints Community Church, St. Paul’s Campus where he was a member of the chancel choir.

Bob is survived by his loving wife Noni Anne Evans, devoted children; Amy (Kevin) Vollmer of Drayden, MD, Jeffrey (Mallory) Evans of Lexington Park, MD, Brian (Marsha) Evans, of Leonardtown, MD and

To Place A Memorial Please Call:

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Emily Henderson of Drayden, MD, sister; Margaret (Craig) Watson of Virginia Beach, VA, grandchildren; Blake, Kaitlyn, Rylee, Dylan and Breanna, and nieces Sonja (Henry) Johnson of Virginia Beach, VA and Chrissa (Bryan) Hines of Suffolk, VA. Family will receive friends for Bob’s Life Celebration on Thursday, February 18, 2010 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the First Saints Community Church, St. Paul’s Campus, Leonardtown, MD where prayers will be recited at 7 p.m. A Memorial Service will be conducted on Friday, February 19, 2010 at 11 a.m. in the First Saints Community Church, St. Paul’s Campus. Interment will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice House of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650 and/or First Saints Community Church, St. Paul’s Campus, P.O. Box 95, Leonardtown, MD 20650 Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com Arrangements provided by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.

Khalil & Kamani Frederick, Newborn Twins Twins, baby boy Khalil Nathaniel Frederick and baby girl Kamani Noelle Frederick, of Lexington Park, MD died February 14, 2010 at St. Mary’s Hospital. Born February 14, 2010 in Leonardtown, MD, they were the children of Karess Noelle Shaw and Elvis Tyrell Frederick of Lexington Park, MD. A graveside service will be held on Friday, February 19, 2010 at 2:30 p.m in St. Mark’s UAME Cemetery, Valley Lee, MD with Rev. Rudy Brooks officiating. To send a condolence to the family please visit www.mgf h.com. A full obituary will appear at a later date. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.

James Holt, 66

301-373-4125 God in his loving and tender compassion called James Norman Holt, Jr., to rest on Wednesday, February 10, 2010, at Chesapeake Shores Nursing Facility in Great Mills, MD. He was a member of St. Cecelia’s Church, in St. James, MD.

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James was lifelong resident of St. Mary’s County and received has formal education through the St. Mary’s County Public School System. He worked at St. Mary’s College, King Shop Around, and twenty years at St. Mary’s Ryken as a maintenance engineer, bus driver, and part time he served J. Frank Raley, Louise Crupi, and others in the community performing miscellaneous duties and lawn care service. James married the love of his life, Florence Cecelia Holt and they were blessed with one loving and devoted son James Eric Holt and one granddaughter who he loved dearly Victoria Rose Holt. James loved his wife and son unconditionally.

His favorite pastimes included: repairing lawnmowers, bus trips to Atlantic City, playing cards, eating fine food, Italian food at Napoli’s Pizzeria in Waldorf, MD, painting and yard work, drinking coffee and Big Gulp’s, smoking, and shooting the breeze with family and friends at the local 7-11. The last three years James’ lived at Chesapeake Shores Nursing Facility and there he made a lot of friends and enjoyed the staff at the facility. He was a good man because if he had a dollar you certainly know that you had a dollar. James leaves to cherish his legacy his loving and devoted wife of forty-four years; Florence C. Holt of Park Hall, MD; his son James Eric Holt of Park Hall, MD; one granddaughter Victoria Rose Holt (Tori) of Greenbelt, MD; four sisters: Marie McLamb of Washington, DC; Edna Culpepper (Carroll Dyson) Dorothy Reed, Alice Robinson (David Barnes) of Lexington Park, MD; three brothers: Francis Holt (Saundra) of Lexington Park, MD, Paul Holt (Clarissa) of Trenton, NJ and Joseph Holt of Washington, DC three sisterin-laws: Mary Rebecca Shade of Park Hall, MD, Lillian Shade of California, MD, and Helen Marie Sewell (Leo)of St. Inigoes, MD; two brother-in-laws Bernard Somerville of Colorado Springs, CO, and Robert Somerville (Austine) of Lexington Park, MD; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends in the community. He was preceded in death by his parents James Norman Holt, Sr. and Agnes Marie (Moreland) Holt; seven brotherin-laws John Harris Reed, Richard Culpepper, Robert McLamb; John Somerville, James Somerville, William Shade, Joseph Shade; one sister-in-law Martha Somerville; and one niece Leslie Reed. The family will receive friends on Friday, February 19, 2010 in St. Cecelia’s Church, St. Mary’s City, MD from 10 – 1l a.m. where a Mass will follow at 11 a.m. The pallbearers will be Joseph Holt, Thomas Briscoe, Donnie Shade, Joseph Shade, James Shade, and David Barnes.

To leave a condolence for the

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Thursday, February 18, 2010

The County Times

Continued family please visit www.mgf h. com. Arrangements provided

by Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD.

Florence Houle, 81

Florence Elaine “Mom Houle” Houle, age 81 of Callaway, MD died on February 11, 2010 at St. Mary’s Nursing Center, Leonardtown, MD. Born January 4, 1929 in Lynn, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of the late William S. and Elizabeth V. Malone Houle.

She is survived by her son Paul J. Houle of Callaway, MD and her dear friend Earlene Dorsey of Valley Lee, MD. Florence attended Lynn High School in Lynn, Massachusetts. In 1950 Florence moved to Maryland and joined the United States Navy’s VR-1 Air Transport Squadron until 1953 when she separated from the service. She owned the “Mom Houle’s Diner” until she retired in 1990. The family received friends on Monday, February 15, 2010 in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD where funeral service followed with Fr. Raymond Schmidt officiating.

Interment was private. Contributions in memory of Florence may be sent to the St. Mary’s Nursing Center Foundation, P.O. Box 518, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Condolences may be left to the family at www.mgf h.com.

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

Francis Knott, 77

Francis Calvin Knott, 77, of Lothian, MD and formerly of St. Mary’s County, MD, died February 9, 2010 at South River Rehabilitation Center in Edgewater, MD. Born January 16, 1933 in Hurry, MD he was the son of the late Mark and Cora Quade Knott. He was the lov-

ing husband of Betty Knott whom he married on November 1, 1958. He is also survived by his daughter Barbara Nelson of Mechanicsville, MD and his son Francis Calvin Knott, Jr. of Lothian, MD as well as his grandchildren Mike Murphy, Crystal Murphy and Kyle Knott.

He is also survived by his sisters Theresa Cook of Leonardtown, MD and Louise Petterson of Millington, TN and his brothers Charles Aloysius Knott of Punta Gorda, FL and Joseph Knott of Great Mills, MD. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers Alfred Knott of Leonardtown, MD and Albrey Knott of Hollywood, MD. Francis graduated from Sacred Heart High School in River Springs, MD and was employed as a dairy driver for Embassy Dairy for thirty years, retiring in 1995.

The family received friends on Monday, February 15, 2010 in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD where a funeral service followed with Deacon Bill Nickerson officiating. Interment followed in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, MD. Pallbearers were Michael Murphy, Danny Moasts, Ray Knott, Carl Knott, John Knott and Bobby Cook.

Condolences may be left to the family at www.mgf h.com. Arrangements provided by Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.

Thomas Price, 66

Thomas Eugene “Butch” Price, 66, of Leonardtown, MD died January 31, 2010 at the Hospice House of St. Mary’s.

Born April 25, 1943, Butch was born in Newark, NJ to the late Dorothy Price.

He received his education at Banneker School in Loveville, MD. He served in the U.S. Army from March 17, 1965 through March 19, 1967. Butch worked at various construction jobs for over 20 years. He also worked at the Naval Ordinance Station in Indian Head, MD. He was the President of the Resident’s Association at Cedar Lane Apartments where he resided, and the representative of the residents serving on the Board of Directors. He was also President of the Able/Disable Club.

Butch enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing cards, horseshoes and most of all, Butch enjoyed

life and lived it to it’s fullest.

He was such a caring and kindhearted person. When Butch was your friend, he was a true friend. He will truly be missed.

Butch leaves to treasure his memory, three daughters, Pamela Jones of Waldorf, MD, Keri Price and Keita Price both of North Carolina, eight grandchildren, two brothers, Earl Calvin Price of Oxon Hill, MD and Joseph Wade Price of Ft. Washington, MD, and one sister, Lillie Mae Downs (Dale) of Ft. Washington, MD, Florence Stevens of Ft. Washington, MD who was like a sister, and brother in law, Walter Stevens, niece, Tawanda A. Booze and great niece, Jasmine A. Price of Laurel, MD, and many other aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He was a father figure to Yvette Jones of Hollywood, MD and Duane Cooper of Mechanicsville, MD. Family received friends on Friday, February 5, 2010 in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650.

A funeral service was conducted in the Brinsfield Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 10 a.m. in the Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Cheltenham, MD.

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

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

Miriam White, 84

Miriam McElfish White, 84 of Mechanicsville, MD passed away on February 10, 2010 at Hospice House in Callaway, MD to be with her Lord.

Born September 8, 1925 in Walkersville, MD she was the daughter of the late Harry R. and Mary M. Angelberger Cramer.

Mrs. White graduated from Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, MD. She retired from O’Donnell’s seafood restaurant in Bethesda, MD. She was a long time mem-

ber of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church. She loved her church and her Sara Circle.

In addition to her parents Mrs. White was preceded in death by her husband’s Jack McElfish, Sr. and Joseph White, grandchildren; Kile King and Ryan Waugh and one brother, Austin Cramer.

Miriam is survived by her children; Jack (Joyce) McElfish of Lawrenceville, GA, Mary Jo (James) Goddard of Mechanicsville, MD, Kay (Ronald) Waugh of Berlin, MD and Margaret King of Berlin, MD, also survived by 6 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, brothers, Joe and Kenny Cramer her companion Herb Cole and her constant companion Sammy.

A Funeral Service was held on Saturday, February 13, 2010 at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church with Pastor Ann Strickler officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery.

Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com Arrangements provided by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD

Caring for the Past Planning for the Future

Brinsfield Funeral Homes & Crematory

“A Life Celebration™ Home” Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A. Brinsfield-Echols Funeral Home, P.A. 22955 Hollywood Road 30195 Three Notch Road Leonardtown, Maryland 20650 Charlotte Hall, Maryland 20650 (301) 475-5588 (301) 472-4400

The County Times

Briefs Malicious Destruction of Properties & Thefts The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating 15 cases of malicious destruction of property that occurred February 4 and February 5, 2010 in the Hollywood areaspecifically on Morgan Road, Joy Chapel Road and Bateman Court Unknown suspects used an object(s), on several occasions to smash vehicle windshields and mailboxes. Based on the investigations it appears these crimes may be related.

In addition, the sheriff’s office is also investigating three thefts from automobiles on Clarks Landing Road in Hollywood. The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office cannot stress enough the importance of locking vehicles, even vehicles parked in the driveway at a residence and securing all valuables.

Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to contact Lt. Eric Sweeney at 301-4754200 ext. 1915 or Crime Solvers at 301-475-3333. The caller does have to leave his/her name. If the information leads to the arrest and conviction, the caller may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Service Call Leads To Arrest, Charges Of Public Drunkenness, Disorderly Conduct

On February 13, 2010 Deputy M Boyer responded to a disorderly conduct complaint at Canopy Liquors located in Lexington Park. Investigation revealed Tercell Ernerst Thompson, 30, of Pomfret was inside of the business allegedly yelling profanity at the store clerk because she refused to sell him alcohol. The clerk believed Thompson to be intoxicated. Several patrons were inside of the business observing Thompson’s alleged disorderly behavior. Boyer attempted to interview Thompson who continued to yell profanity at the deputy drawling further attention. Thompson assumed an aggressive stance with the deputy and refused to cease his conduct. Boyer could smell a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on Thompson’s breath and person. Thompson speech was slurred as he yelled.

Boyer arrested Thompson. As Thompson was being transported to the detention center he spit on the deputy’s jacket. Thompson was charged with disorderly conduct, public intoxication and destruction of property.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Detectives Continue Search For Citizen Robbery Suspects

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

Two citizen robberies that left one victim suffering from a gunshot wound over the weekend have detectives looking for two black males they believe may be responsible for the crimes.

According to police press releases both armed robberies occurred on the same day and only about 90 minutes apart.

On Feb. 13 at about 9:30 p.m. patrol officers answered a service call for a gunshot wound victim in Lexington Park and detectives who later arrived found that the victim was accosted by two suspects demanding money as he was leaving his driveway.

One suspect pulled out a gun, police reports stated, and shot the victim in the side.

Both suspects ran away, police stated, and the victim was transported to Prince Geoge’s Hospital Center in Cheverly with injuries that were not life threatening.

Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron said that the victim was still in stable condition.

Shortly after the first robbery the second occurred close by, Cameron said.

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Police reports stated that the victim in the second robbery, who was also in their driveway, was assaulted by two black males who also demanded money.

The suspects fled the scene however, when they found that the victim had no money, police stated, and the victim was not injured.

“You don’t assume anything, but all appearances right now show these two incidents seem to be related,” Cameron said. “They were in close proximity. Aside from being brazen, they seem desperate.”

Cameron said that the crimes could be drug related given the circumstances under which they were committed.

The victim in the shooting did not know the suspects, Cameron said, and no names have been developed yet as to who the suspects are.

Anyone with information regarding these crimes is asked to call the Bureau of Criminal Investigations at 301-475-4200 at either extension 9058 or 9042.

Citizens can also call Crime Solvers at 301475-3333 or send a text message to CRIMES (274637) and enter TIP239. guyleonard@countytimes.net

Sheriff Asks Pedestrians To Stay Off Roads In Aftermath Of Fatal Accident

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

Philip H. Dorsey III Attorney at Law

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Pedestrians considering walking on county roads where space is now limited because of piled-high snow should avoid the trip, said county Sheriff Timothy K. Cameron, in the wake of an accident in Charlotte Hall Sunday that claimed the life of a woman walking along Mohawk Drive.

A Toyota Tundra, driven by Robert Nelson, Jr., 40, of Charlotte Hall was driving eastbound on Mohawk Drive down the middle of the road when he struck Virginia Burch, 61, of Charlotte Hall who was walking in the same direction, according to police reports.

Burch was thrown into a snow bank from the impact of the strike, police reports stated, and succumbed to her injuries after being transported to Prince George’s Hospital Center in Cheverly by a state police helicopter.

Bank Robbery Suspects Sought Calvert Investigative Team detectives are still seeking suspects in a bank robbery that took place at 9:50 a.m. Feb. 11 at Maryland Bank and Trust, in Solomons. Police say a man entered the bank on that Thursday morning and robbed bank employees at gunpoint.

The male then fled the scene on foot with an undisclosed amount of money. The suspect is described as a white male approximately 6-feet-tall and was wearing beige canvas work pants, hooded beige canvas jacket, a camouflage face mask and a black stocking cap. Citizens can anonymous provide tips on this crime by calling Crime Solvers at (410) 535-2880.

Nelson was not injured in the strike and alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the incident.

Cameron said that snow bound conditions made it dangerous for pedestrians.

“Either the sidewalks are block or the edge of many of the roads are blocked,” Cameron said. “Obviously that’s a concern.”

The snow also degraded a drivers’ ability to see, Cameron said.

“Even in daytime there’s a visibility challenge,” he said. “At night there’s no visibility and in the daytime with the sun reflecting off the white it’s almost blinding.”

The investigation into the fatal incident is continuing, police reports stated, and anyone who may have witnessed the incident is asked to call Dep. Timothy Reese at 301-475-4200 at extension 9115. guyleonard@countytimes.net

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The County Times

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In The

Know Education

Schools Make Emergency Calendar Adjustments

By Andrea Shiell Staff Writer School officials at Tuesday night’s Board of Education meeting all had colorful comments about the 10 snow days county schools absorbed during the last two weeks, and have now passed emergency adjustments to the school calendar to compensate for some of the lost time.

“This has nothing to do with makeup days. We’ll be talking about snow days, but this is an emergency action we need to take,” said Superintendent Michael Martirano as he presented changes to the Board, explaining that teachers won’t have enough time to work on grading and planning between now and the end of the third marking period because of school days lost to snow.

The Board voted to move the end date for the third marking period from Wednesday, Feb. 24 to Thursday, March 4, and the Feb. 24 school day, which was originally scheduled to be a 2-hour early dismissal day, will instead be a full school day for students and staff, and Thursday, March 4 will be a 2-hour early release day.

The distribution date for the third marking period interim has been changed from Friday, March 5 to Thursday, March 11.

The end date for report cards has been moved from Friday, March 26 to Wednesday, April 14, and the 2-hour early release for teacher planning and grading has been moved from Friday, March 26, which will be a full school day, to Wednesday, April 14, which will be a 2-hour early release day.

The distribution date for report cards has been moved from Wednesday, April 14 to Wednesday, April 21.

“This has been an anomaly that we discovered with all these snow days that we’ve had … that we’ve had the time to meet before this would be implemented,” said Martirano.

The school system will be generating notes in their website (www.smcps.org) and press releases to local media outlets to emphasize the changes made to the calendar, and makeup school days will be decided after a ruling from the Maryland State Department of Education.

The County Times

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Frosted Flakes mascot "Tony the Tiger" has a wife, son (Tony Jr.) and daughter (Antoinette) that were used in early advertising commercials.

Proposed School Budget Absorbing Cuts

By Andrea Shiell Staff Writer Superintendent Michael Martirano took a deep breath as he handed out summaries of his proposed budget to the Board of Education at their work session on Tuesday night.

He began by outlining the school system’s successes in student achievement, but cited increased operating costs and enrollment, and declining revenues as the school system’s primary challenges, explaining that clever accounting was needed to bridge potential shortfalls.

“The first thing is the County appropriations,” said Martirano. “Last year it was $79,945, 102. This year the difference is a reduction to $76 million, so we’re at a shortfall of approximately $4 million.”

Other cuts will include uses of the school system’s fund balance and other expenditures equaling further losses of roughly $1.1 million.

Martirano said that he was also concerned about the loss of fiscal stabilization funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

“Last year we had stabilization dollars at $3.1 million, and this year its approximately $2.9 to $3 million, which is a differential of about $200,000 less … but that’s where we get very nervous, because that could go away,” he said.

“That is a critical variable, that this budget is built upon having stabilization dollars.”

“Here’s where the biggest challenge is,” Martirano later said. “The overall budget is $2.5 million less than last year … also look at the $8 million that we’re using from our fund balance, and I also want you to look at the stabilization dollars, and we’re still at a $2.5 million shortfall.”

Martirano said these numbers take into account the increased needs from anticipated personnel costs, charter school funding, health care and life insurance costs and transportation costs. He went on to explain that the elimination of SFSF funding, the reduction in utilizations of the school system’s fund balance, increased student enrollment and transportation costs, and possible position cuts put the anticipated shortfall for FY 2012 at $12 to $14 million.

Proposed account reductions in the FY 2011 budget include $400,000 less for OPEB, $400,000 for textbooks, $400,000 in position reductions, $700,000 in office supplies and instructional materials, $700,000 in utilities and $2.4 million in other expenditures.

Martirano said there are no plans to cut jobs within the school system as of yet. “We definitely don’t want to do that,” he said. “You know that once you let those go it’s really difficult to get them back.”

At the end of the presentation, Board of Education Chair Bill Mattingly echoed the sentiments of other school officials when he implored the Superintendent to “protect the classroom, protect our employees … I think you’re being fair when you say cuts are coming across the board. That’s just a reality we’ll have to deal with.”

Another reality that local officials are dealing with is the general uncertainty coloring the financial forecast at both the state and local levels.

“These numbers could change in a minute,” said Martirano. “They literally did change in a minute, as Greg [Nourse, Director of Fiscal Services] received the official numbers from the State – I received them simultaneously – he bounded through my door, with excitement and enthusiasm, only to see that an hour later they had changed … but we did enjoy the moment.”

Renowned Poet Passes

Poet Lucille Clifton, former St. Mary’s College of Maryland professor of humanities and Maryland poet laureate, died unexpectedly, Saturday, February 13, from a bacterial infection at the age of 73.

Born in Depew, New York, June 27, 1936, Clifton was most famously known for her contributions to African American literature.

Clifton served the college as St. Mary’s Distinguished Professor of the Humanities from19892000 and as the Hilda C. Landers Endowed Chair in the Liberal Arts, from 2000 until her retirement in 2007. Her first book of poems, Good Times, was rated one of the best books of the year by the New York Times in 1969.

A memorial for Clifton will be held at St. Mary’s College of Maryland on Saturday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m. in Montgomery Hall, Room 25. For more information, go to www.smcm.edu.news.

14

un Fact

Math Seminar Cancelled “Mathematically Preparing Our Elementary School Students for Their Futures,” sponsored by St. Mary’s County Public Schools and the St. Mary’s County Council PTA, and scheduled for Wednesday, February 17, 2010, has been cancelled. A new date will be announced when determined.

For more information, contact Becky Loker, supervisor of elementary mathematics, at 301-475-5511, extension 127, or by e-mail at rbloker@smcps.org, or Brenda Raley at 301-475-5511, extension 105.

Tech Expo Rescheduled The Dr. James A. Forrest Career & Technology Center’s Tech Expo, previously scheduled for Tuesday, February 9, 2010, 5:30-8:00 p.m., at the school site located at directly across from the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds in Leonardtown, has been rescheduled for Thursday, February 18, 2010.

The purpose of the Tech Expo is to familiarize students and parents with career and technology education career options offered by St. Mary’s County Public Schools. Visitors will have an opportunity to meet the staff at the Dr. James A. Forrest Career & Technology Center and to learn about the 23 completer programs currently offered. Middle school and high school counselors will be available to answer questions about career clusters and to assist students in planning their academic program. The Forrest Center will provide special presentations for parents to explain the registration process and how to incorporate Forrest Center programs into their student’s schedule.

For more details, contact the Dr. James A. Forrest Career & Technology Center at 301-475-0242.

SkillsUSA Competition Rescheduled Due to inclement weather, the Maryland SkillsUSA Southern Regional Competition, hosted by the Dr. James A. Forrest Career & Technology Center, has been rescheduled to Tuesday, February 23, 2010, 3:00-8:00 p.m., at the school located at 24005 Point Lookout Road, directly across from the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds in Leonardtown, MD. The competition begins at 4:00 p.m., at the Forrest Center, with the awards assembly taking place in the school’s Dohram Room as each contest finishes.

Students from the Forrest Center, the Calvert Career Center in Calvert County, and North Point High School in Charles County will be participating in the event.

Students receiving 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each event will advance to the state competition scheduled for March 26-27, 2010.

The competition will cover knowledge and skills in a variety of areas including firefighting, nurse assisting, criminal justice, cabinetmaking, sheet metal, automotive technology, advertising design, and computer-aided drafting, and is open to the public.

For more information, contact Ms. Bonnie Skinner by phone at 301-475-0242, or by email at bjskinner@smcps.org.

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Thursday, February 18, 2010

The County Times

Ed Greer Accepts Political Appointment to Top Position at Pentagon

By Sean Rice Staff Writer

20815 Callaway Village Way Callaway, Md 20620 301-994-9439

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One of St. Mary’s County’s own, Ed Greer of Hollywood, has accepted a political appointee position in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Greer, who on Wednesday announced his resignation from his position as executive director of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, is the first civilian official from Patuxent River Naval Air Station to receive a political appointee position within the Pentagon.

Greer will become Director of Developmental Test and Evaluation (DT&E) for the Department of Defense, a new position created in May 2009 by a sweeping congressional Defense acquisition reform bill that aims to strengthen oversight and limit out-of-control spending in defense programs.

“This is a wonderful opportunity in that I will be required to standup a new organization which was recently approved by Congress,” Greer told The County Times. “I will be responsible for developing new DT&E policies that will be applied across the Department of Defense which will streamline developmental testing in the acquisition cycle.”

The County Times recently interview Greer, who turns 53 in April, at his home in Hollywood.

Greer talked about his career and the careers of his family at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, which extend back to 1947, shortly after the base was built, who his father began working for the public works department on base.

The following are Greer’s full-text responses to questions from The County Times about his career and family.

I grew up working in a TV repair shop with my father, Aaron Greer. My father started working as a blue-collar worker at Patuxent River in 1947 after serving three years in Italy during World War II. My father worked two jobs most of his life. He worked 33 years as a civil servant for the Public Works Department, Patuxent River at the steam power plant. He also had a part-time job repairing TV’s. He took a home study course on TV and radio repair in the mid 1940s and averaged 98 percent on exams. My father died in June 1996.

As a result of my interest in TV and radio repair, I chose to go to the St. Mary's County Technical Center to study electronics. I took the vo-tech training for half a day during the last two years of high school.

One of the lessons that I learned from my father centered on education. He said, “Son, there are a lot of things in this world that you can earn but they can be taken away – education is not one of those things. Once you earn a degree, no matter what you do subsequent to that, no one can take that degree away from you.” My father had to quit high school in the ninth grade to provide for his family during the great depression.

Honesty, integrity and forthrightness were the values that our father stressed most with his children.

After high school, I attended Virginia Highlands Community College (VHCC) in Southwest Virginia. My mother and father were born and reared in that area. At VHCC, I majored in Engineering. Just prior to my registering for college, my brother, Rick, who had already spent two years at VHCC, approached me and said, “Ed, I’m not trying to tell you what to do with your life, but if I had to do it again, I would not major in electron-

ics technology, I would study electrical engineering”. Although I never prepared academically for the rigor of an engineering degree, I took his advice and went right into an engineering program. I soon realized I was behind most of my classmates because I did not take college preparatory courses.

The majority of them had already taken pre-calculus, physics, chemistry, and so on.

I don’t regret going the vocational-tech route, but I do wish I did take the college preparatory courses. I made up for the lack of academics with persistence and hard work.

I had made my decision to major in engineering unlike Rick who spent two years at VHCC and earned an Associate’s Degree in Electronics Technology. After my first year in the VHCC Engineering program, the college closed its engineering program due to lack of student enrollment. I found myself as one of eight students at the end of my freshman year wondering where to go next.

This forced me to move back to Maryland and attend Charles County Community College, which is now the College of Southern Maryland, where I continued my education in engineering.

I started to work at Patuxent River Patuxent River in 1976, when I secured a job with DynCorp in the calibration lab repairing electronic equipment. My TV and radio repair experience provided me with the necessary experience to work on any piece of electronics equipment.

While attending college full time, I worked 30 to 40 hours per week at Patuxent River, I repaired TV’s at my father’s TV repair shop and I taught adult education classes in electronics at the St. Mary's County Technical Center at night to pay for my tuition.

After attending Charles County Community College, I transferred to the University of Maryland at College Park and majored in electrical engineering. I was still employed as a contractor working 30 to 40 hours per week for DynCorp— mainly from noon Friday to 8 p.m. Sunday night.

I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering in 1980 and started to work that following Monday as a civil servant in the calibration laboratory as an Electronics Engineer. Later, I obtained a Master of Science degree in Management from Florida Institute of Technology in 1996.

Currently I hold two major positions simultaneously--one as the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Center (NAWCAD) Executive Director; and the other, as the Deputy Assistant Commander for Test and Evaluation, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). In the capacity as Executive Director, I oversee a Command of 14,400 employees. The Aircraft Division spans across three sites: Patuxent River, Lakehurst New Jersey; and Orlando, Florida. We have a total operating budget of about $4 billion.

I am very much involved both in day-to-day operations and in strategy, for example, planning investments to posture us for work 5, 10, and even 20 years from now.

As the NAVAIR Deputy Assistant Commander for Test and Evaluation, I am responsible for planning, executing, analyzing and reporting of Naval Aviation Flight Tests, spanning across three sites: Patuxent River; China Lake, Calif. and Point Mugu, Calif. In that capacity, there are about 6,600 employees who make up the Test & Evaluation cadre. This position has significant impact across the Department of the Navy. I am responsible for a $940 million budget and over 100 airplanes and the development of people, processes and facilities necessary to the acquisition and support of naval aviation systems.

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Ed and Danny Greer meet the Commanding Officer (then Captain but now Rear Admiral, USN Retired, Bill McCarthy) of the Aircraft Carrier USS George Washington. Danny worked all week on the USS GW evaluating Range Telemetry Systems.

My primary duties (in the Pentagon) will include monitoring and reviewing the Department of Defense development, test and evaluation activities of the major defense acquisition programs.

I will be responsible for developing new DT&E policies that will be applied across the Department of Defense which will streamline our acquisition timeline. I will also be required to submit an annual report to Congress on the health of DOD acquisition programs executing DT&E. In my family, we all started at different times and in different types of positions. For example, my wife Phyllis, started four years before I did because she started right out of high school.

We are a close family and daily engage in each other's lives. We all live in the local area. My Mom, Mrs. Blanche Greer, was born Blanche Ellen Shephard in 1924 at Whitetop, Virginia. In 1942 she moved to Washington, DC to support the World War II effort at the Navy Ship Yard manufacturing and assembling aircraft and carrier parts.

From 1944 to 1946 she was employed at the House of Representatives in the Mail Department and afterwards at Patuxent River for two years. She was then very busy raising five children until she returned to the workforce in 1966 for the St. Mary's County School System, where she retired in 1987 with 21 years’ service. My mother and father were married for 49 and one half years.

My sister Brenda Edwards started working at Patuxent River as an Office Automation Clerk in 1969 for the Flight Test Division. For over a decade she was self-employed as a contract typist for the U.S. Test Pilot School while raising their two children. During this period, I helped Brenda transition from an electric typewriter to a Commodore 64 computer, starting her lifetime love of computing. Brenda worked for Integic Corporation from 1996 to 2004 as lead of the e.POWER Training and Technical Documentation team supporting NAVAIR. She is currently employed by Eagle Systems Inc. as an Engineering Technician supporting the Qualified Products List (QPL) team within the Propulsion and Power Competency.

Brenda graduated from Chopticon High School in 1967 and will graduate in May 2010

with an Information Technology degree.

My brother Rick started working at Patuxent River shortly after graduating from Virginia Tech with a BS degree in engineering. During his 29 years at NAWCAD, the first 18 years were spent at the Atlantic Test Range where he was the Lead Communications Engineer overseeing the communications facility and the communications lab.

During the past 11 years, he has spent most of his time as the Lead Communications Engineer for the Fire Scout Unmanned Air Vehicle Program.

Rick has received many awards during his years of service. In 2009 he was awarded the prestigious Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association Copernicus Award for outstanding accomplishments in the Command, Control, Computers, Communications and Intelligence and Information Technology. He has lead many NAVAIR working groups in the past and is currently the Navy Lead for the Unmanned Air Systems Task Force Encryption Working Group. Rick recently completed his Master of Science Degree in Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and is considered an expert in Unmanned Air Systems communication systems and encryption systems. He has also been a member of the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department for 29 years.

My sister Kathy Steele began her civil service career in 1977 at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, where she served as clerk typist.

In 1992, Kathy was promoted to the Information Resources Management Division Director position for all NAWCAD sites. She currently serves as a Senior IT Manager for the Research, Development, Test and Evaluation community under the Integrated Battlespace Simulation and Test Department. Over the years, Kathy has received numerous honors, awards, publications, and recognition such as her Enterprise Licensing initiative with Microsoft's Bill Gates that saved the Navy over $150 million dollars.

Kathy earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Technology and Management from the University of Maryland. Kathy also obtained a Master's Degree in Information Management from Syracuse

Continued On Page 18

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Continued From Page 17 University as well as a Masters of Business Administration Degree from City University.

In the community, Kathy helped establish the non-profit organization SMARTCO (Southern Maryland Applied Resources Technology Council) which has allowed NAVAIR to transfer over 8000 PCs and IT excess equipment to our local school systems. Her efforts culminated in special recognition by Maryland Congressman Steny Hoyer, who praised her “innovative and exceptional donation project”.

My deceased brother Danny worked on base as a civil servant for 20 years. His last job was as the program manager for the targets and threats department. His main objective was to oversee the design, development, and manufacture of low-cost, biodegradable, simulated targets that could be used for fleet training. They put special coatings on the simulated targets that would make it appear, to a pilot at 25,000 feet as a real tank or threat.

There is a lot I’d like to say about Danny.

We all miss him dearly and I think about Danny every day I drive to work. He was an avid crabber and fisherman. His untimely death in May 2009 was unexpectedly and hurt us deeply.

My Wife Phyllis began her career as a clerk typist at the Department of Education in Washington, upon graduation from Chopticon High School in 1977. One year later, Phyllis transferred to Patuxent River, as a clerk typist. She was employed at various activities aboard the station, with most of her service as a housing manager at the Housing Welcome

The County Times

Thursday, February 18, 2010

18

Center. In 1997, Phyllis received the Employee of the Year Award for Navy Housing.

In addition, during these years my wife attended Charles County Community College on a part time basis while working full time and raising our two children, graduating with an AA degree in Management Development in 1998. Phyllis transferred to NAVAIR Headquarters in 1999 to work on the deployment of the NAVAIR Enterprise Resource Planning Program—developing training courses.

Phyllis is currently employed at the NAVAIR Headquarters, Comptroller Department as a Program Manager. She continued with college, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland in Ed Greer landed on-board the Aircraft Carrier USS George Washington in the back seat of an F-18.

2001, and Masters of Science Degree in 2008. She has 32 years of government service. ucation locally (currently a BS in Mechanical We have two children. They work on When I look back on my accomplishEngineering). I expect this research partner- the base as civil servants. My son Derek has ments at Patuxent River, the two I value most ship to grow significantly in its contribution a Bachelor degree in Computer Engineering are outside the scope of my main duties. They to our nation’s defense. NAWCAD has an on- from University of Maryland. He works at are educational partnerships with the local going requirement to hire engineering profes- the Air Combat Environment Test and Evalcommunity and removing barriers in order to sionals which will continue into the future. uation Facility. My daughter Angela has a hire Individuals With Targeted Disabilities.

I believe that there are many highly capable Bachelor degree in Biology from St. Mary’s The recent education and research partnerfolks here in Southern Maryland.

College and works in the Cost Department ship between the NAWCAD, the University You can see, given my own difficult be- aboard the base. of Maryland, the Southern Maryland Higher ginning, I view this program as a win-win for I am very proud of my family, their Education Center and the College of Southern the partnership as well as the many prospec- achievements and the support they have Maryland, which provides an engineering edtive future engineers of Southern Maryland. given me.

19

Thursday, February 18, 2010

The County Times

Newsmakers

Richardson Recognized for Service to R&P Board

By Andrea Shiell Staff Writer The Board of County Commissioners, the Department of Recreation and Parks and the Recreation and Parks Board recently honored Robert Richardson, 60, for nearly eight years of service on the R&P Board, where he served from March 2002 through December 2009. The recognition came during their Jan. 5 board meeting, during which he was presented with a plaque to commemorate the occasion.

Richardson went into that position with some experience under his belt, working with troubled kids and young adults in the county’s parole and probation system.

He described his experience in the parole and probation fields as personally enriching.

“I did it for 33 years. In fact I started in Leonardtown in March of ’73. I did background investigations on Stephanie Roper [Foundation and Committee],” he said, referring to the organization bearing the namesake of a young woman who was brutally raped and murdered in St. Mary’s County in 1982.

“I enjoyed doing investigations for the county,” said Richardson. “You got out into the community, talked to people, talked to families, and did an investigation before they passed the sentence.”

Since then Richardson has also served on the Wicomico Shores Golf Course Citizen Advisory Board, and has helped R&P implement youth and sports programs in the county, one of which is the national Punt, Pass and Kick program.

“It’s a really unique program that took off probably six or seven years ago,” said Richardson, explaining that the program is affiliated with the National Football League, and set up to have local boys and girls compete with each other in punting, passing and kicking. This year’s local competition was held in September at Fifth District Park, located on Route 6, New Market Turner Road in Charlotte Hall. Local first place winners advanced to the sectional competition held in November.

Submitted photo

Bob Richardson; Phil Rollins, Director of R&P; Kenny Sothoron, Sports Coordinator; and Arthur Shepherd, Recreation Division Manager; and the R&P Board, congratulated the sectional winners of this year’s PPK competition. The winners (from left to right) were: Sarah Carty, Chris Palmer, Ryan Bowles, Kaitlyn Beasley-Polko and Makayla Kuhnow.

Sectional winners were invited to compete in the Redskins Team Championship held at FedEx Field in Prince George’s County in December. The top four Team Championship scorers from all the first place finalists in each age group (from all over the country) then went on to advance to the National Finals at an NFL playoff game in January.

Richardson, who has run the St. Mary’s, Charles and King George’s County (Virginia) chapters of the program with R&P Board member Kenny Sothoron, said he had only seen one person advance to the regional competition, but the free program was good experience for millions of kids in the U.S. and Canada

since it started in the 1960s. The program is open to boys and girls ages 8 to 15.

Robert, who has lived in St. Mary’s County since 1978, said he had been especially proud of his work at Wicomico Shores.

“I think the most rewarding thing was getting that clubhouse built,” he said. “I spent about four years trying to get that clubhouse built, and another accomplishment was just working with the board to make decisions and policies.”

Richard, who has been retired for five years, now divides his time between working with the Marcy House Board, where he previously served as Chairman, and substitute teaching.

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Fifth Annual Polar Bear Plunge Raising Awareness and Money Plungers at this year’s event will be taking donations for the Haiti Green Project, which has been set up to plant trees, rebuild nurseries and train farmers in Haiti. The goal is to raise awareness of the country, which, due to deforestation, has suffered intensified natural disasters and the displacement of rural communities.

The event will take place Thursday, Feb. 18, beginning at 4 p.m., with the actual plunge at 4:30.

Participants will gather near the James P. Muldoon River Center along Route 5, St. Mary’s City, on the campus of St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and will line up along the waterfront and rush into the water, trying to rescue a “polar

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Thursday, February 18, 2010

The County Times

Sanford Concert Series Presents Mason Sebastian and Company The Sanford Concert Series provides an excellent cure for cabin fever with the energetic music of Mason Sebastian and Company in a concert presented on Saturday, March 6 at St Andrew’s Church.

They will present a lively evening of Celtic and folk music as well as rousing sea chanteys. This evening of lively music is a great way to forget about the snow that is piled up in your yard and put a spring in your step or at least make you tap your toes.

This is a repeat performance by a very popular performer and entertainer, who keeps the audience enthralled with great music, quick wit and captivating

stories. The last time Mason Sebastian performed for the Sanford Concert Series he played to a house that was filled to capacity. As a Celtic musician, Mason has worked with Seamus Kennedy, Christy Moore and Shannon Tide, and the Wolfetones. He has also performed with such musicians as Rick Danko (The Band), Gordon Lightfoot, James Taylor, Tom Paxton and Eric Bogel. This wide repertoire guarantees a varied, exciting evening of music.

The Sanford performance begins at 7:30 pm, Saturday March 6, in the Parish Hall at St. Andrew’s Church on Route 4 South in California, MD. The

Gas Prices Likely to Rise in 2010 Though the issue has largely stopped grabbing headlines and has simply become a fact of life, the cost of fuel is likely to be on the rise again in 2010. So says the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA), whose Short-Term Energy Outlook expects the price of crude oil to substantially increase in 2010 and 2011. Crude oil averaged $62 per barrel in 2009, a figure EIA expects to escalate to roughly $80 and $84 per barrel in 2010 and 2011, respectively. The escalating cost of crude oil figures to hit the nation’s drivers at the pump, where the EIA predicts a substantial increase in the price of regular grade gasoline. While the cost of fuel averaged $2.35 per gallon in 2009, the average gallon fuel could cost drivers $2.84 in 2010 and $2.96 in 2011. While this might seem like a tough pill to swallow, the EIA notes these figures take the country’s ongoing economic recovery into consideration. So while the higher cost of fuel might cause some to cringe, theeconomy’s recovery might just make those costs easier to handle.

Parish Hall setting is a relaxed, warm atmosphere that gives the audience the chance to meet and talk with the performers immediately after the concert.

Tickets for adults are $10 and for children are $5.

Seating for this performance is limited; the previous Mason Sebastian concert was standing room only.

Reservations are strongly suggested. When we reach capacity we will have to turn people away. To make your reservation, please contact Lyn Schramm at 301862-9541. For information regarding future concerts, please visit The Sanford Concert Series web page at www.sanfordconccertseries.com.

Leonardtown High School’s Graduating Class of 1980 We are looking for Class of 1980 graduates.

Our 30th Reunion is set for July 31st with an informal dinner on July 30th.

Please contact us at www.

Facebook.com/Leonardtownhighschool, or email Janet Dodd Scavo at ucoumama@cinci.rr.com, as well as www.alumniclass. com/leonardtown

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Thursday, February 18, 2010

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L ibrary Items

• Storyteller Walter Jones to perform To celebrate Black History Month professional storyteller and musician Walter Jones, Jr. will share tales and music from Africa and the Carolinas on Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. at Lexington Park. He will play a variety of musical instruments. This free program is suitable for all ages.

• Public invited to Big Read book discussions Southern Maryland’s second Big Read is underway focusing on Ray Bradbury’s novel, “Fahrenheit 451”. Copies of the book, audio book and DVD as well as reader’s guides are available at each library.

The public is invited to the following Big Read book discussions: Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. at Leonardtown; Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. at Lexington Park; and Mar. 1 at 7 p.m. at Charlotte Hall.

• Teens can enter video contest Teens can create a three minute or shorter video and enter it in the “Learn, Create, Share.” video contest. Winners will receive iTunes gift cards. Deadline for entries is March 4. The videos will be shown and winners announced at the Video Showcases on March 11. Details and entry forms can be found on the Library’s Teen Page.

Each library has a video camera that can be checked out to use within the library.

• iPod Touch to be given away iCOSMOS, a free download from the iTunes app store, allows customers to use their iPhones and iPod Touch to search for and reserve library items. To celebrate this new service, Southern Maryland Regional Library Association is giving away an iPod Touch on Feb. 26 in each county. Customers can register to win at any branch.

• Libraries celebrate Dr. Seuss birthday Children of all ages can celebrate Dr. Seuss birthday at Lexington Park on Feb. 27 at 2 p.m., at Charlotte Hall on Mar. 6 at 2 p.m. and at Leonardtown on Mar. 20 at 10 a.m. Stories, fun activities and songs are planned at these free programs. Registration is required.

• Free tax help offered IRS/AARP certified tax counselors will offer free tax preparation for low to moderate income taxpayers on Feb. 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at both Leonardtown and Lexington Park libraries. No appointment is necessary. Basic returns only, no business or rental income returns will be done. Taxpayers must bring proof of social security number and picture identification, all income and tax related information, and a copy of last year’s return. For more information, call 301-863-2561.

Thursday, February 18

Saturday, February 20

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

• Bus Trip: National Air & Space Museum St. Mary’s County Airport (California) – 8 a.m.

Chapter 478 of the Experimental Aircraft Association is sponsoring a bus trip to the National Air & Space (Udvar-Hazy) Museum at Dulles Airport on Saturday, 20 February. The bus leaves the terminal building at St. Mary’s County Airport at 8:00 AM and will return at approximately 6:00 PM. Cost is $25 per person; first come, first served basis. Everyone welcome.

Contact Joe Spelz at 301-872-4129.

• Reconnecting Youth Group Meeting Department of Juvenile Services (Leonardtown) – 5 p.m.

Youth in grades 4 through will meet for this series to learn to manage their emotions appropriately, communicate effectively, set goals and build self-esteem. The group will begin on Thurday, February 18th from 5:00 pm- 6:00 pm at the Department of Juvenile Services located at 23110 Leonard Hall Dr., Leonardtown. There is a one-time fee of $25 or $3 weekly fee. For more information or to register, call 301-866.5989.

• Basket Bingo Leonardtown Vol. Fire Department – 6 p.m.

• SMR Speaker Series: When is Video Gaming an Addiction?

St. Mary’s Ryken Media Center (Leonardtown) – 6:30 p.m.

How much “screen time” is healthy for your teen? When can it become an addiction? This program will show some of the current information and resources for parents. For more information call 301-475-2814.

• Hold’Em Charity Cash Game Donovan’s Pub (California) – 7:30 p.m.

Friday, February 19 • Blood Drive Red Cross Blood Drive St. Andrew’s Church Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Hollywood Lions Club.

• Seafood Dinners Fridays during Lent 4:30 – 7 p.m at Immaculate Heart Of Mary Church in Lexington Park. Entrée options include: Crab Cakes, Shrimp, Oysters, Haddock, Fish of the week Rockfish, Catfish, Salmon 2 sides included with entrée. Other non-meat meals are peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, grilled cheese sandwich, and fish sandwich. For more information call 301-863-8144.

• AL Steak and Shrimp Night American Legion Post 221 (Avenue) – 5 p.m.

• Free Concert: Carpenter’s Tools International (CTI) Lexington Park United Methodist Church – 7 p.m.

Christian band will give a free performance and offer copies of their latest CD, “Stepping Forward” for sale. For more information go to http://www.carpenterstools.org.

• Texas Hold’Em Tournament VFW Post 2632 (California) – 7 p.m.

• Money Smart Seminar College of Southern Maryland (Leonardtown) – 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Topics include grants, tax credits, purchasing homes, financing, personal banking, credit, insurance, identity theft protection and more. Seminars will begin at 9 a.m. and every hour thereafter until 12 p.m. Expo will feature local financial planning vendors. For more information, go to www.csmd. edu/MoneySmart. To pre-register, call Christine Bish at 301-934-7602.

• Black History Celebration Sotterley Plantation (Hollywood) – 10 a.m.

“FREE at Last! Black History Celebration” will include dramatic portrayals, gospel choir performances, hands-on learning and children’s activities. Historical character performer Sandi English will perform at the restored 1830s slave cabin. The event is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information go to www.sotterley.org.

• SMAWL Pet Adoptions Petco (California) – 10 a.m.

• Southern Maryland Quilt Show* Loffler Senior Center (Great Mills) – 10 a.m.

Snow dates are March 6 & 7. Pre registration will be required for each quilted item submitted for viewing during this event, and items may include handmade quilts, new or vintage.

There is a $3.00 admission fee, and tickets will be on sale to win a handmade quilt. Additional information will be announced in the next newsletter, or by calling 301.475.4200, ext. 1073.

• FAW Italian Dinner & Brown Bag Auction Father Andrew White School (Leonardtown) – 4 p.m.

The menu includes spaghetti, homemade marinara sauce, homemade meatballs, Italian sausage, garlic bread, salad and desserts. Wine and beer will be available for sale by the glass. Tickets will also be for sale for a variety of filled themed baskets that will be raffled that evening. Prices are $8.50 for ages 12 and older, $5.00 for ages 6-11 and $3.00 for ages 5 and under.

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

• Open Skate Night Leonard Hall Recreation Center (Leonardtown) – 5:30 p.m.

• Southern Maryland Quilt Show* Loffler Senior Center (Great Mills) – 10 a.m.

• Texas Hold’Em Deep Stack Tournament Park Bingo Hall (California) – 2:30 p.m.

Doors open at 1 p.m., play begins at 2:30. To register, email mbb88@ aol.com or call 301-643-5573. No email on the day of the event.

• Texas Hold’Em Mary’s Place (Leonardtown) – 7 p.m.

Formerly Buffalo Wings & Beer.

For more information call 443-6242746 or email clonzanida@hotmail. com.

Monday, February 22 • No Limit Texas Hold’Em St. Mary’s County Elks Lodge (California) – 7 p.m.

• St. Mary’s County Geneological Society Meeting Leonardtown Library Meeting Room – 7 p.m.

• $30 No-Rake Hold’Em Donovan’s Pub (California) – 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, February 23 • Nature Time at Greenwell Greenwell State Park (Hollywood) – 10 a.m.

Pre-registration (no later than 24 hours in advance) is required via email - lpranzo@greenwellfoundation.org - or by calling the Greenwell Foundation office at 301-373-9775.

• Leah’s House Volunteer Open House Lexington Park Library – various times For new and current volunteers, there will be sessions at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., or from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Lunch and dinner will be served.

Volunteers are needed functions including fundraising, administrative duties, house aides, transportation, childcare and property maintenance.

Pre-register by Feb. 18. For more information call 301-994-9581 or email leahshousefriend@msn.com.

• Special Olympics Hold’Em Bennett Building, 24930 Old Three Notch Rd. (Hollywood) – 7 p.m.

• Texas Hold’Em Mary’s Place (Leonardtown) – 7:30 p.m.

Formerly Buffalo Wings & Beer.

For more information call 443-6242746 or email clonzanida@hotmail. com.

Wednesday, February 24 • Special Olympics Hold’Em Bennett Building, 24930 Old Three Notch Rd. (Hollywood) – 7 p.m. *CALL TO CONFIRM EVENT

23

Thursday, February 18, 2010

The County Times

A Journey Through Time The

Chronicle

By Linda Reno Contributing Writer During the 1950s, one of the best television programs for children was “The Roy Rogers Show” starring Roy Rogers and his wife, Dale Evans. We all knew the name of his dog “Bullet”, his horse “Trigger”, Dale’s horse “Buttermilk”, and the jeep called “Clarabelle”. We could all sing the theme song by heart (I still can), “Happy trails to you, until we meet again. Happy trails to you, keep smiling until then. Happy trails to you, til we meet again.”

I thought I knew everything there was to know about Roy Rogers until a few years ago. I happened to read an article that said his real name was Leonard Franklin Slye. Aha, I thought to myself--bet you he’s got Southern Maryland connections. He does.

Roy was the fifth great-grandson of William Slye, the immigrant, who died 1698 in Calvert County. There are several biographies on line including the Biography Channel, who claim Roy’s father was a fullblooded Cherokee Indian. Not true. Roy may have has Indian blood via one of his maternal lines, but it wasn’t through the Slye family.

Leonard Franklin Slye was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on November 5, 1911. In 1930, he moved to California and formed a musical group called The Sons of the Pioneers. In 1937 he changed his name to Roy Rogers, for a dentist he knew in Cincinnati.

Roy was a moral, upright man who adhered to his values. In 1977 he was asked to make a guest appearance on “Wonder Woman” but would not agree until the producers assured him that Lynda Carter would wear more clothing than usual—and she did.

Roy appeared in nearly 100 movies from the 1930s through the 1950s. He was extremely popular and once received almost 79,000 fan letters in one month. Roy shunned

Book Review

“A Purse of Your Own” by Deborah Owens

A male emperor moth can smell a female emperor moth up to 7 miles away.

politics. Once he was asked to run for Congress on the Republican ticket. He replied, “I have both Democrat and Republican fans and I can’t afford to lose any of them!”

He was personally awarded three Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures at 1752 Vine Street; for Radio at 1733 Vine Street; and for Television at 1620 Vine Street in Hollywood, California. The Sons of the Pioneers AP Photo were awarded a Star on the Dale Evans, Trigger, Roy Rogers.

Hollywood Walk of Fame for with members from all over the world. TrigRecording at 6843 Hollywood ger died on July 3, 1965. Roy was reluctant Boulevard.

Roy’s horse “Trigger” also had a change to “put him in the ground”, so he turned the of name. He began life in 1932 as “Golden remains over to a taxidermist asking that the Cloud” and was foaled on a small ranch in horse be mounted in a rearing position.

When asked what he wanted at his own San Diego partly owned by Bing Crosby. Roy bought him in 1938 and an on-looker noted death, Roy said “When I die, just skin me that this horse was “quick on the trigger” and out and put me up on old Trigger and I’ll be so his name was changed. He was so popu- happy.” Roy died July 6, 1998 and is buried lar that at one time, he had his own fan club beside Dale—just as it should be.

Wanderings of an

c.2010, Fireside Books $15.00 / $19.99 Canada 290 pages, includes index

By Terri Schlichenmeyer Contributing Writer Nobody has to tell you that the economy is uncertain. You live it.

The job (if you have one) is shaky. The savings account (if you have one) is emptying. Debt (you have that!) is growing and your way of life has changed, perhaps forever.

You’d like to make your money go in a different direction but as far as you’re concerned, financial information might as well be written in Greek. But there’s help: if you just don’t get it, get “A Purse of Your Own” by Deborah Owens.

You’ve never invested in stocks because it’s scary, right? It’s hard to understand, and besides – you don’t have the money in the first place.

Wrong, says Owens. Take baby steps. Begin by looking at your assets, liabilities, and overall budget. When everything’s written down, you might be surprised to see that you can shave a little money here or there to invest. Even $5 a week can turn into thousands of dollars in profits if you have the patience.

Once you have a nest egg and are comfortable enough to invest, remember to do four things: diversify, diversify, diversify, and don’t let fear keep you from acting.

Because of the internet, it’s easy to research the businesses in which you want to invest. Owens says to look for the companies whose business models reflect your values. Buy stock in those that make the products you like.

So how to get started? You can buy

stocks online or you can use a broker; there are advantages and disadvantages to both. In either case, Owens says, a financial advisor may be your portfolio’s BFF. Embrace the 7 Wealthy Habits, one of which is to keep an eye on “the big picture”.

Reach for more than what you can immediately see.

Ignore nay-sayers but accept real help when it’s offered. Do your homework and pay attention.

Never put your eggs in one basket. Educate yourself about investments, bonds, mutual funds, and tax-deferred retirement plans by reading up on them. Treat your portfolio as you would a family member. Be sure to “pay it forward”.

Tired of seeing your money disappear? Then dig in your purse, sharpen your pencil, and get ready to learn how to stop the drain by reading this book.

Using analogies that are easy-tounderstand, author Deborah Owens starts from the beginning with a family that was shocked to see the small size of their net worth. From there, she moves through the various ways to invest and save, how to start and utilize an investing club for support, and how to think like a wealthy woman. Owens’ advice is solid, real, and a little outside-the-box and the quizzes she includes (what is your Purseonality?) are eye-opening, all of which makes the entire finance industry seem seriously fun.

Even if you’ve only got a few dollars to spare but you want to see it grow, “A Purse of Your Own” is a book to bag.

Invest a few dollars in it, and you’ll soon be investing like a pro.

un Fact

Aimless

Seeing Bright Colors

By Shelby Oppermann Contributing Writer I’m dreaming of peonies, zinnias, heirloom tomatoes and herbs. I know as I sit here looking out the window at a landscape covered in snow, that at some point, this will all be green and dry again. This morning I was perusing a magazine filled with pages of bursting spring colors, both outside and inside. I want to see bright colors everywhere. Even though it seems like the snow and cold will be here forever, I know it is time to plan. I came across my garden notebook again also. It has heavy plastic protectors where you can store plant leaves and seeds. I have used the notebook when I have gone to garden centers to seek out a matching plant to ones we already have. The book even has graph paper so you can lay out your garden first on paper.

The last time I had my grand idea to plant a fairly large garden, I had been hit in the head with a 60-mile an hour softball the day before. You would think I would have been sleepy, but no – in my mindless state I decided to create a 10’ by 12’ raised bed garden.

You may remember me writing about voles eating all my vegetables and hostas from underneath.

The voles have been a deterrent for me in beginning another foray into the gardening world until now, as were the snakes. I am thinking that I could lay a fine mesh screen down first and then cover the mesh with dirt and potting soil. I have been told that the voles and moles will eat their way through mesh too, but I am going to try it. Maybe I could lay two layers of mesh and heavy plastic. I’ll find something that works.

If I close my eyes I can almost smell the fresh dirt, stronger in the warm, spring sun. In fact I do that exercise quite often; closing my eyes and feeling the sun on my face even on the coldest, dreariest days.

d

Min

It works. You start to feel warm all over. The earth should be very fragrant come March with all the snow we’ve had this winter. I actually like getting my hands in dirt now – I can understand what gardeners gain in serenity by planting, weeding, and consuming the produce wrought from their own hands. I also feel this will be an important step in adding healthier, natural foods to our diet. Raw vegetables out of your own garden do taste better. One vegetable/fruit I really want to try is an heirloom tomato. Do they taste that different?

Rosemary will probably be the first herb I plant, since I don’t think mine will be coming back. I can’t find my old enamel pot of rosemary under the snowdrift for one thing. I’m used to going outside the door and cutting my two varieties of fresh rosemary, my sage, and the lemon mint. I can’t even walk by my herbs without rubbing the leaves each time. Many of our meals contain these and other herbs. My Mother always said how much she hated sage. She told me it tasted like old socks, hence I never tried it. Then when I started experimenting with planting and using different herbs, I came across all these different varieties of sage and fell in love with the smell, then the taste.

Now I add it to our meals two or three times a week.

Everything seems better with sage.

I’ll have to do my research again on when I should begin planting each type of plant and what soil mixtures to use. I do know you are supposed to wait until after the last frost. Or, I could use my sure fire method of when is the right time to start my garden – go sit in the softball dugout and wait for when the right moment hits me.

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

The County Times

Thursday, February 18 • Fair Warning Irish Pub Band CJ’s Back Room (Lusby) – 5 p.m.

• Dave Norris DB McMillan’s (California) – 6 p.m.

• DJ McNa$ty Big Dogs Paradise (Mechanicsville) – 8 p.m.

Friday, February 19 • Fair Warning Irish Pub Band Donovan’s Pub (California) – 5 p.m.

• Dave Norris DB McMillan’s (California) – 6 p.m.

• David Morreale Ruddy Duck Brewery (Solomons) – 7 p.m.

• DJ Chris Big Dogs Paradise (Mechanicsville) – 8 p.m.

• Karaoke* Quade’s Store (Bushwood) – 8 p.m.

• Wolf’s Open Blues Jam Fat Boys Country Store (Leonardtown) – 8 p.m.

• Bent Nickel Anderson’s Bar (Avenue) – 8:30 p.m.

• DJ Donna & DJ Ohmer Hotel Charles (Hughesville) – 9 p.m.

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

• Lionize Hula’s Bungalow (California) – 9 p.m.

• Mike Meade Blue Dog Saloon (Port Tobacco) – 9 p.m.

• Sum-Bich Memories (Waldorf) – 9 p.m.

Saturday, February 20 • Fair Warning Irish Pub Band DB McMillan’s (California) – 6 p.m.

• Billy Breslin Evan’s Seafood (Piney Point) – 7 p.m.

• Bobaflex Hula’s Bungalow (California) – 9 p.m.

• Karaoke with DJ Tommy T and DJ T Applebee’s (California) – 9 p.m.

• Legend Blue Dog Saloon (Port Tobacco) – 9 p.m.

• Roadhouse Band VFW Post 10081 (Bel Alton) – 9 p.m.* • Three Sixty Beach Cove (Chesapeake Beach) – 9 p.m.

• The Worx Hotel Charles (Hughesville) – 9 p.m.

• Impact Drift Away Bar & Grill (Cobb Island) – 9:30 p.m.

• No Green JellyBeenz Big Dogs Paradise (Mechanicsville) – 9:30 p.m.

• Sam Grow Lisa’s Pub (Indian Head) – 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, February 21 • California Ramblers Bluegrass Band Scotts Bar II (Port Tobacco) – 2 p.m.

Monday, February 22 • Mason Sebastian DB McMillan’s (California) – 5 p.m.

Tuesday, February 23 • Fair Warning Irish Pub Band DB McMillan’s (California) – 6 p.m.

Creole to the Core

Blues Legend Tom Principato to Headline United Way Event Carnival season is nearly upon us, and as people the world over are dusting off their pancake griddles for Fat Tuesday, and unearthing their masks and costumes for yet another hot and wild Mardi Gras, it’s only fitting that New Orleans rock and blues legend Tom Principato will take center stage with his band at the 10th anniversary Mardi Gras benefit for United Way of CalTom Principato vert County.

United Way CEO Kelly Chambers has said, “We feel really fortunate to have booked Tom, just coming off his European tour … his caliber and New Orleans-style are perfect for our event.”

Telecaster enthusiasts across the world should be familiar with his music, which comprises a blend of hard rock and blues, even establishing him as a “great unsung hero” of the genre. Based in Washington, D.C., The Tom Principato Band includes front man, Tom Principato, joined by Joe Wells on drums, Josh Howell on congos and Steve Wolf on bass.

With 23 Wammie awards from the Washington Area Music Association, and “steady appearances at renowned venues like the Birchmere, Ram’s Head, and Blues Alley” under his belt, Principato has definitely carved an impressive niche of fans, both on the East Coast and in Europe. He’s also coming home after an extensive European tour, which has included a performance on the famed German television music program “Ohne Filter” with Guitar legend Albert Lee. Heather Maertens of Maertens Fine Jewelry and her staff enjoy last year’s United Way Mardi Gras incognito.

• California Bob Ruddy Duck Brewery (Solomons) – 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, February 24

• Karaoke VFW Post 2632 (California) – 8 p.m.

• Karaoke with DJ Harry Big Dogs Paradise (Mechanicsville) – 7 p.m.

• Wolf’s Open Blues Jam Beach Cove Restaurant (Chesapeake Beach) – 8 p.m. *CALL TO CONFIRM

n O g n i Go

For family and community events, see our calendar in the community section on page 22.

What’s

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.

• Four of a Kind Martini’s Lounge (White Plains) – 9 p.m.

• Captain John DB McMillan’s (California) – 5:30 p.m.

• Bad Horse Cryer’s Back Road Inn (Leonardtown) – 9 p.m.

24

• Captain Woody Apehangers Bar (Bel Alton) – 9 p.m.

• Dave & Kevin Ruddy Duck Brewery (Solomons) – 7 p.m.

• Alive-N-Kickin’* Full Rack (Waldorf) – 9 p.m.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

In Entertainment

Looking back, it’s been a hectic journey since Principato first picked up a Sears Sivertone guitar 46 years ago. Starting when he was only 11, he credits his parents’ extensive record collection, a singular devotion to mastering the guitar in his teen years, and his adoration of the great B.B. King as his major influences.

“I’ve often been pigeonholed as a blues artist, but I think that’s because B.B.’s soulful influence was always at the core of everything,” said Principato in a press release from United Way of Calvert County.

Principato gained national attention in the 1970s, when he led the legendary band Power House. Since embarking on a solo career in the early 1980s, he produced 11 solo albums and engaged in numerous collaborations, including performances with music legends Stevie Ray Vaughn, Danny Gatton and Chuck Leavell.

“I like performing with artists that have complimentary differences of tastes and influences,” said Principato.

And even though he’s been pigeonholed as a blues man, one review of his “Raising the Roof” album in Down Beat Magazine credited his sound as a “diverse musical palette with blues, and complements of funk, jazz, Latin, rock and New Orleans R&B,” so he may be gaining more recognition for his own diversity, and as his popularity and tour schedule have continued to gain momentum, a new project is taking shape, an album of 100% original music with collaborators like the Memphis Horns, Sonny Landreth and Willy Weeks.

“I made a decision with this record, that I wanted to raise eyebrows,” he said.

And that’s precisely what he’s likely to do at this year’s 10th Anniversary Mardi Gras celebration, which will also feature magic shows courtesy of Fantasy World Entertainment, New Orleans style cuisine and cocktails by Maryland Country Caterers, an extensive live and silent auction, a Maertens Razzle Dazzle Jewelry Raffle, and the drawing for a Mercedes Benz SLK Convertible donated by Family Auto Care.

This gala event, which is set up to benefit 36 human service programs in Calvert County, will be held on Saturday, March 13 at The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, from 7 pm to 11 pm. For tickets, visit www.unitedwaymardigras. com, call (410) 286-0100 or visit any Ticketmaster location in Washington, D.C. or Maryland.

25

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Business

The County Times

DireCTory Call to Place Your Ad: 301-373-4125

HEALTHCARE POSITION

Rn, lPn, C.n.a., C.n.a. with Medication.

MBON license, CPR/First Aid Required.

Work private duty nursing (One on One)

also needed: - Teachers Aide

(work with children with autism)

- Care Manager

(4 years college, scheduling, client care)

Call 301-386-7888 • Fax resume to 301-386-8877 Website: www.ICMLargo.com

Law Offices of

P.A. Hotchkiss & Associates Since 1987

WHERE YOUR LEGAL MATTER-MATTERS

Auto Accidents – Criminal – Domestic Wills – Power of Attorney DWI/Traffic – Workers’ Compensation 301-870-7111 1-800-279-7545 www.pahotchkiss.com

Don’t spend what you don’t have! www.ProfessorMoneyWise.com

(301) 997-8271

Serving the Southern Maryland Area Accepting All Major Credit Cards Off of Chancellors Run Rd 22325 Greenview Parkway Unit C Great Mills, MD 20634 Tel (301) 863-6012

Computer & Network Service/Sales Security Camera Service/Sales Serving Southern Maryland

PC Repair Fee: $79-$99 Residential Only

New “Business Client” Special!

No hourly Labor charge!

Contact us for more details!

www.tsbtechnologies.com

301-475-8711**410-326-4442**301-885-3000

“When your journey from a dream to a great story includes us, you travel better.”

Our promise to you.

Independently Owned and Operated

by Traveltours of Maryland

www.travelleaders.com/greatmillsmd

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

Est. 1982

snheatingac.com

Lic #12999

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

Fairfield Inn by Marriot Lexington Park • Patuxent Naval Station

Newly Renovated

301-866-0777

Pub & Grill 23415 Three Notch Road California Maryland

www.dbmcmillans.com

26 Days Till St. Patrick’s Day Entertainment All Day

• Cable LCD TV’s with 20 HD channels, in-room hair dryer, iron, ironing board and coffee makers • Complimentary High Speed Internet Access This hotel has a smoke-free policy

• Spacious guest rooms with a well-lit work desk and a microwave and refrigerator.

• Book 10-25 hotel rooms online, anytime quickly and easily with QuickGroup • Book 10 or more rooms at this hotel for a group discount

Operated under a license agreement from Marriot International, Inc. 22119 Three Notch Road • Lexington Park, MD 20653 Telephone (301) 863 0203 • Facsimile (301) 863 2113

Marriot.com/WASLP

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 Cozy cabin in the woods, ideal for individual, couple or small family. Lot size is 1.5 wooded acres with adjacent 1.5 acre lot conveying with sale. Situated on quiet cul-de-sac, with winter water view. Washer, dryer, electric baseboard and woodstove heat. Recent carpeting and vinyl flooring. Cathedral ceilings throughout. Shaded screened porch, with ceiling fan, and sunroom.

Storage shed. Plenty of room to add on Numerous gardening and landscaping possibilities for someone with a green thumb Community access to two beautiful Bay beaches and large lake. Call 410-394-6735 or 10-610-7825 to schedule an appointment to view the property. Ask for Tony.

Price: $129,000.

Land for sale. Located Downtown Leonardtown.

Commercial Pad Site approved for mix use. Acceptable uses to include office, rental, restaurant, residential. Approved for 2,160 sq ft. Call Kim Guy to preview @ (301)475-6752. Price: $325,000.

Real Estate Rentals Newly Built Pristine Garden Style Luxury Condominum, just 1.5 miles from NAS Patuxent River: 2 bedroom 2 bath, with livin office, living room, dinning room, balcony, Master suite and bath w/jacuzzi, upgradded padded carpet, gated community, wheel chair accessable, security access, elevator access, Underground Garage Parking, gym, swimming pool, tennis court, jogging trails, community center, tot lot. Located at the Catles of West Meath. Contact Me at 267 614 1345 after 6 PM for questions and Showing. Serious Renters Only. Price: $1225 OBO.

Help Wanted Mary’s Place is looking for an experienced short order cook and waitress/bartender. Mid-shifts and weekend mornings (breakfast) available.

Apply in person at Mary’s Place - 40845 Merchant’s Ln. Leonardtown in the Shops at Breton Bay (Next to McKay’s Grocery) Medical Receptionist needed P/T for extremely busy medical practice. Applicants must be extremely well organized with ability to multi-task.

Excellant customer service skills is a MUST! Previous medical experience preferred. Job duties include computerized scheduling, referrals, collecting copays, discussing accounts all while maintaining a pleasant disposition. Starting at 20 hours/week which may lead into full time. Please fax resume to Practice Manager (301)870-9722.

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE!

Vehicles 1989 Nissan 240sx. Automatic, $1500 or best offer. If interested, please call 240-925-9717.

1998 Toyota Tacoma. Brand New Tires. New paint job black to sliver fade lots of new parts.

Lots of after markets. To request pictures or for info call or email 240-298-9560 cspalding@ hvfd7.com. Price: $5700 OBO.

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

The County Times

1. Dutch cheese 5. Deeper than abyssal 10. Carpentry groove 14. Early 20th C. art movement 15. Ablaze 16. Uninteresting 17. Water in the solid state 18. Philippine seaport 19. Not crazy 20. Atomic #43 21. A US House member 22. Spanish pain 23. Adventure story 26. Emits light 30. Getting rid of 32. Type genus of the Muridae 33. The longest division of geological time 34. Canadian flyers 38. Record 39. Kiln 40. In addition to 41. Tragic British actor Edmund 45. ___aid: owed 46. American region 48. Provoking terror 50. 2 items of the same kind 53. Iowa City school

54. ___ Jima, WW II battlefield 56. Undergraduate degree 57. Young woman (French) 60. Condescend 62. Type of computer 63. Wings 64. Japanese immigrant to US 65. Cut into cubes 66. Put in harmony 67. Commercial iron alloy 68. Periods of time

CLUES DOWN

1. Copyreads 2. Capital of Bangladesh 3. Turns into noun 4. One thousandth of an ampere 5. Possessed 6. From a distance 7. Displaying or characterized by variety 8. A tribe of plains Indians 9. 5th zodiacal sign 10. Tooth caregiver 11. Macaws 12. Mother of Perseus 13. Carries out orders 24. Mathematician Karl F.

1777-1855 25. Escape with 27. Blare 28. Not out 29. Beached 31. Farm state 32. 1/1000 of an inch 35. Halloween treats 36. Viper 37. 12 inches 38. Algerian dinar 41. Norman Roc___ll, painter 42. Most strange and frightening 43. In any way 44. One billionth gram 47. -__, denotes past 48. 98295 49. Craggy 51. Manila hemp 52. Cyprinid fishes 55. Double curve 58. Local area network 59. Old world, new 60. Roman god of the underworld 61. A quantity of no importance 62. Russian commune 65. Delaware

Last Week’s Puzzles Solutions

KiddKioer

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CLUES ACROSS

Thursday, February 18, 2010

26

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Thursday, February 18, 2010

The County Times

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02/19-02/24/10 Fri., Feb. 19 Boys’ Basketball Great Mills at Chopticon, 7:30 p.m.

Leonardtown at Patuxent, 7:30 p.m Bishop Ireton at St. Mary’s Ryken, 7:30 p.m.

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

Patuxent at Leonardtown, 6:30 p.m.

St. Mary’s Ryken at Bishop Ireton, 7 p.m.

Wrestling SMAC championship meet at North Point High School

Sat., Feb. 20 Wrestling SMAC championship meet at North Point High School

Sun., Feb. 21 Boys’ Basketball St. John’s at St. Mary’s Ryken, 2:30 p.m.

Mon., Feb. 22

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

Bishop O’Connell at St. Mary’s Ryken, 6:45 p.m.

Tues., Feb. 23 Boys’ Basketball Lackey at Chopticon, 7 p.m.

Great Mills at Thomas Stone, 7 p.m.

Leonardtown at Calvert, 7 p.m.

Girls’ Basketball Chopticon at Lackey, 6:30 p.m.

Thomas Stone at Great Mills, 6:30 p.m.

Calvert at Leonardtown, 6:30 p.m.

Ice Hockey St. Mary’s Ryken and Leonardtown at Chesapeake Cup, Capital Clubhouse, 4:30 p.m.

Wed., Feb. 24 Ice Hockey St. Mary’s Ryken and Leonardtown at Chesapeake Cup, Capital Clubhouse, 4:30 p.m.

Boys’ Basketball Huntingtown at Great Mills, 7 p.m.

Sat., Feb. 13 Boys’ Basketball St. Mary’s Ryken 74, Paul VI 61 Girls’ Basketball Paul VI 66, St. Mary’s Ryken 55

Sun., Feb. 14 Boys’ Basketball DeMatha 74, St. Mary’s Ryken 62 Girls’ Basketball Elizabeth Seton 67, St. Mary’s Ryken 46

Mon., Feb. 15 Boys’ Basketball St. Mary’s Ryken 77, Don Bosco/Cristo Rey 62

Tues., Feb. 16 Boys’ Basketball Northern 63, Chopticon 51 Great Mills 71, Leonardtown 62 (overtime) Gonzaga 78, St. Mary’s Ryken 58 Girls’ Basketball Great Mills 39, Leonardtown 31 Holy Cross 72, St. Mary’s Ryken 41

SPORTS DESK

Hornet-Raider Showdown One For All Time

By Chris Stevens Staff Writer

When the final buzzer sounded after Great Mills’ 71-62 win over Leonardtown in overtime Tuesday night, I was reduced to uttering one word to describe what I just witnessed.

“Wow.” That’s all that anybody could really say after a game that started off with the Hornets poised to blow the Raiders out of the gym, only to see Leonardtown rally and keep a small lead into the final minute of the fourth quarter.

It’s safe to say that when these two teams are at their best, in any sport, it is the premier rivalry in Southern Maryland, by far, and Tuesday night’s game went a long way towards proving that.

While any win is a team effort, Kamaron Barker stood head and shoulders above every other player on the court, as he scored eight of his game-high 19 points in the last minute of the fourth quarter and overtime to push Great Mills ahead – after a critical mistake.

With about 25 seconds left and the Hornets trailing 53-51, Barker spun between two Leonardtown defenders and banked in a lay-up to tie at 53, only to foul LHS’ Ryan Vanderwest five seconds later in the backcourt. Vanderwest made both to give the Raiders a 55-53 lead, but Barker came back to hit two free throws, with the first taking the breath out of everyone in the gym, to tie the contest at 55 and send it into overtime. From there, it was all Great Mills. A team with a world of talent but some streaks of inconsistency played a near perfect overtime period, outscoring Leonardtown 167 to come away with a hardfought win.

After Barker’s go-ahead jumper with a minute left, Great Mills’ Davonte Jordan and Leonardtown’s Nick Shade got tangled up and Jordan was assessed a technical foul. Vanderwest split the foul shots and Leonardtown had possession with 43.8 seconds to go and a chance to take the lead. Once again, it was Barker who came up big, this time on defense.

He hounded Shawn

Medzinski on the inbound pass, came up with the steal and flipped the ball ahead to Moe Queen, who converted the lay-up for a 63-60 lead, and the Hornets never looked back.

This win could definitely give Great Mills a burst going into the final week of the regular season and playoffs, as they fight for home-court advantage in the early stages of the 4A East region. A huge win over a county rival, conference foe and potential regional opponent can only help the Hornets from here as they set their eyes on regionals and a trip to College Park for the 4A state playoffs.

As for Leonardtown, this scrappy outfit with tough players and clutch shooting is still a force to be reckoned with, as they proved Tuesday night that they too have what it takes to go far in the playoffs and

any team taking them lightly could be in serious trouble next weekend.

The final piece of this rivalry puzzle was the incredible atmosphere and noise provided by everyone who attended Tuesday night’s game. Everyone who showed up supported their team without much incident and plenty of school pride. Whether they wore green and gold or blue and white, the fans helped elevate the game to elite status, one where if you weren’t hard of hearing before, you certainly were afterwards.

All in the name of the greatest sports rivalry St. Mary’s County will probably ever see.

Comments, questions, complaints?

Send ‘em all to Chris at chrisstevens@ countytimes.net.

The County Times

St. Mary’s County to Present Will Smith Leadership Awards St. Mary’s County Government will present the Second Annual Will Smith Leadership Awards on Friday, Feb. 19, 2010 at Great Mills High School at 6:30 p.m. prior to the girls’ varsity basketball game.

The annual award recognizes 8th grade Recreation and Parks Youth Basketball participants who demonstrate excellent character and leadership. They are nominated by their team’s coach and letters of support from two of their school teachers are provided. The County’s Recreation and Parks staff makes the final selections.

Each recipient receives a plaque and a basketball signed by Coach Tubby Smith. Smith was Will’s uncle and currently the head coach of the University of Minnesota Men’s Basketball team.

The award is named after William Smith Jr. who tragically lost his life on September 21, 2008 while attending Becker College in Worcester Massachusetts. Will graduated from Great Mills High in 2007 and was a standout athlete. He participated in the Recreation and Parks youth basketball program for five years. Will demonstrated strong leadership throughout his life.

Photographs from the First Award presentation in February 2009 are posted to the county’s website. Log on to www.stmarysmd.com. Click on Recreation and Parks under Citizen Services, then scroll to Photo Gallery.

County Tennis League Seeking Players, Teams St Mary’s County USTA Tennis League looking for 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 players for 2010 Mixed Adult teams. Season runs from March-May. Must be a USTA member and have reached eighteen (18) years of age prior to, or during, the 2010 calendar year. Contact Mai-Liem Slade if interested, mlslade@md.metrocast.net or 301-481-2305.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

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Accomplished, Respected Newcomers Join Blue Crabs Pitching Staff For 2010 Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Manager Butch Hobson has announced significant additions to the team’s pitching staff, adding starter Craig Anderson, as well as relievers Gerry Dunn and Jeff Williams. A catcher, Christian Lopez, has also been added to the roster.

Anderson, a lefty, is a native of Australia with significant Triple-A time in the Seattle Mariners and Baltimore Orioles organizations. The southpaw also has a decorated international career as one of his country’s top hurlers, suiting up for the Australian national team in the 2004 Olympics, and the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic Tournaments. An 11-year veteran, Anderson had his rights acquired this offseason from the Brockton Rox of the Can-Am League where he played last season, for future considerations. All told for Anderson’s career, he is an impressive 94-65 with a 3.87 ERA in 260 professional games (238 starts) in nearly 1,500 innings pitched.

Also acquired from Brockton this winter for future considerations was right-handed reliever Gerry Dunn, who has also officially signed. Dunn, who had 24 saves each of the last two seasons in Brockton, is entering his eighth professional season after being originally drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 2000.

Joining Dunn in the bullpen is righty Jeff Williams, who has also excelled as a closer during his career. Making his professional debut with the Traverse City Beach Bums of the Frontier League the past three seasons, Williams accumulated 28 saves. After parlaying that effort into a contract with the New York Yankees, he finished last season at Class A Charleston (SC) where he picked up three more saves, and also had a brief stint in Triple-A with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with the Yankees.

Even as early as February the Blue Crabs bullpen is looking very deep to begin the season, boasting three arms with significant closing experience. With the return of right-handed closer Jim Ed Warden (46 professional saves), Dunn (50 pro saves) and Williams (31 career saves), the bullpen already boasts a total of 127 career saves, giving Butch Hobson a multitude of late-inning options.

The team has also announced the signing of righthanded catcher Christian Lopez, who is entering his seventh professional season. Originally selected in the sixth round of the 2003 draft by the Tampa Bay Rays, Lopez has advanced as far as Triple-A Durham in his career and has 366 professional games of experience behind the plate. He finished the 2009 season with the Joliet Jackhammers of the Northern League.

SOMD Sabres Ice Hockey

Northern Soccer League Registration Ongoing The St. Mary’s Northern Soccer League is currently conducting walk-in and mail-in registrations.

Walk-In registrations will be held on February 6th, 13th, and 20th at both the Mechanicsville Firehouse and Leonardtown Library, between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Mail completed form(s) and check made payable to “Northern Soccer League” to the following address: Northern Soccer League Attn: Player Registration PO Box 1063 Mechanicsville, MD 20659 Late registrations will end on February 28, a late fee must be included in payment for any forms postmarked between February 21st and February 28th. Late fee is $25 per family.

The cost of registrations are as follows: $50 1st child, $30 2nd child, $30 3rd child, and $20 for each additional. RECPLUS cost is $60 and family discount is still applied for multiple registrations.

For more information, visit http://www.smnsl.org.

Babe Ruth Baseball Registration Ongoing Registration for the St. Mary’s County Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken Baseball League (ages 7 to 18) will be held at the Mechanicsville, Leonardtown and 7th District Firehouses from 10:00 am to Noon on Saturday February 13, 20 and 27.

Registration will also be held at the Mechanicsville Firehouse from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm on Wednesday, February 17 and February 24. For more information, please visit our website at http://smbrl.baberuthonline.com

The Southern Maryland Sabres hosted teams from Northern Virginia, Navy, Bowie, Easton, Metro, Howard, Fort DuPont, & Prince William at the Capital Clubhouse on Saturday night, February 13th. The Southern Maryland Sabres Atom/Mites with 24 players between two teams held their own strong against the strong competition. The Sabres have come a long way in their abilities over the season and the results were positive on the ice. Goalies Allen Dement, Nico Vaccaro, Matthew Harris, and Griffin Bucior defended the net well and showcased our goalie depth.

Our Parent’s support and enthusiasm for the team kept everyone going through their 6-games. The players had a really good time. Way to go Atom/Mites and the Sabres Organization for hosting a top-notch event!

Gretton Goalkeeping Indoor Futsal Clinic Series Gretton Goalkeeping will conduct weekly indoor futsal training sessions for all ages and skill levels Monday and Wednesday each week at Park Hall Elementary School from 7:30-8:30pm. Field player training is also available. Reservations are required. For more information or to reserve your spot please email grettongoalkeeping@gmail.com or call 301-643-8992.

Call 301-373-4125 to Subscribe Today!

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The County Times

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Barker, Queen Lift Hornets Over Raiders in Overtime

By Chris Stevens Staff Writer LEONARDTOWN – For the third time this season, the Great Mills and Leonardtown boys’ basketball teams met, with this one actually counting in the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference standings.

In a game that will surely be remembered for a long time, Hornet seniors Kamaron Barker and Moe Queen came up big when it counted most, pushing the Hornets (12-5 overall, 7-4 SMAC) to a 71-62 overtime victory over the Raiders Tuesday night, a game that saw a little bit of everything.

“These county rivalry games are always fun, regardless of record,” Hornets head coach Frank Peck said.

“To be honest, I thought this was our most complete game.”

For Barker, who led all scorers with 19 points, the atmosphere topped anything he ever experienced after playing his first three years at St. Mary’s Ryken.

“This is better than anything in the WCAC because it was a real tight game,” he said. “This is a good rivalry.”

The Hornets jumped out to a 134 lead, but the Raiders (8-7 overall, 7-4 SMAC) rallied to take a 16-15 lead after the first quarter and held on for dear life into the fourth period.

Queen (12 points) knocked down a three pointer with 1:20 left in regulation to bring Great Mills within two (51-49) points. The Raiders responded with a potential back breaker, as Tyler Gladu’s long inbound pass

found a streaking Ryan Vanderwest for a two-handed dunk that pushed the lead back to four points.

“We wanted to set a screen for him to get him going long,” said Raiders coach Jamie Copsey. “The guys ran exactly what we wanted them to.”

“Any dunk lifts a game up,” said Gladu. “We thought we had it, we just had to play smart and we didn’t do it.”

The Hornets put together a quick 6-2 burst in the final minute, with Barker hitting two free throws with 4.4 seconds left to knot the game at 55, with the first shot bouncing off the back of the rim, and falling through.

“I was just praying to God it would drop,” Barker said of his thoughts during that shot.

“You want a senior on the line in that situation,” Peck said. “Free throws were key for us, we went 14of-18 in the second half and in overtime. That was key for us.”

With one minute to go in the extra session, Barker swished a 14-foot baseline jumper to give Great Mills the lead for good at 61-59, and Queen added a lay-up off of a steal by Barker, providing the right cushion for the Hornets to escape.

“Leonardtown’s a good team and this a big win for us,” Queen said.

“We just kept our heads up strong and took control in OT.” “You have to give them credit,” Copsey said. “Both teams had their chances and [Great Mills] took advantage of theirs.” chrisstevens@countytimes.net

Photo By Chris Stevens

The Hornets’ Earl Castain and Basil Moye (52) surround Leonardtown’s Toddrick Daniel during the first half of Tuesday nights’ boys’ basketball game.

Photo By Chris Stevens

The Hornets’ Davonte Jordan drives baseline in the second half of Tuesday nights’ boys basketball game against Leonardtown.

Photo By Chris Stevens

Moe Queen scored 12 points in the Hornets’ 71-62 overtime victory against county rival Leonardtown Tuesday night.

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The County Times

Photo By Frank Marquart

Brian Grashof of St. Mary’s College fires a hook shot over Wesley’s Paul Reynolds.

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St. Mary’s College

Seahawks Rally, Snap Wesley’s Eight-Game Winning Streak St. Mary’s City, Md. – Freshman Paul Reynolds (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna) and Wesley College were poised to upset No. 17 St. Mary’s College of Maryland in Capital Athletic Conference men’s basketball action Tuesday night before the Seahawks erased a 14-point deficit and nipped Wesley for the 75-73 victory.

The Wolverines (15-7, 9-5 CAC), the defending CAC champions, seemed to be cruising to their ninth consecutive win, boasting a 51-37 advantage over nationally-ranked St. Mary’s with 16:41 remaining the game. The Seahawks commanded their first lead of the game in the next 10 minutes as junior center Sam Burum’s (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) fast break lay-up capped a 23-8 run.

Junior Rudy Thomas (Milton, Del./Sussex Tech) responded on Wesley’s next possession with a long range shot to momentarily return the lead back to the visitors before the Seahawks regained control with a 12-4 spurt. St. Mary’s established a six-point margin with 1:13 remaining and held on to halt the Wolverines’ win streak at eight games.

S e n i o r guard Camontae Griffin (Baltimore, Md./Dunbar) finished with 22 points and matched his season-high of five assists to pace St. Mary’s while junior guard Alex Franz (Catonsville, Md./Cardinal Gibbons) contributed 13 points and gamehighs of seven assists and four steals. Sophomore forward Brian Grashof (Downingtown, Pa ./ Dow n i ngtown West) added 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting and a career-best two steals.

St. Mary’s (19-3, 11-2 CAC) has now won 18 straight regu-

Thursday, February 18, 2010

lar-season home games in the ARC Arena with tonight’s win. The Seahawks’ last regular-season home loss was a 72-70 setback to Marymount (Va.) University on January 30, 2008.

The Seahawks had no answer for Wesley in the first 20 minutes as the Wolverines led the entire first half, including boasting 11-point margins twice. Reynolds notched 14 first-half points in leading the visitors to a 42-33 halftime advantage. Wesley’s strong perimeter defense, which is ranked 24th in Division III, and up-tempo offensive kept St. Mary’s off-balance in the first half.

The reigning CAC Player of the Week, Reynolds finished with a game-high 25 points and nine boards while sophomore guard Chris Douglas (Landover, Md./Jericho Prep Academy) added 12 points and three assists. Senior forward Jacques Bowe (Millsboro, Del./Sussex Tech) also reached double figures with 11 points while senior forward Alphonzo Wright (Dover, Del./ Polytech) hauled in a game-high 11 caroms.

Roberts’ Foul Shots Keep SMC Women Win Streak Going

St. Mary’s City, Md. – Junior forward Jamie Roberts (Rockville, Md./Barrie) notched the winning play for the St. Mary’s College of Maryland women’s basketball team in the final five seconds of regulation as the Seahawks tallied a come-frombehind 65-61 victory over Wesley College in Capital Athletic Conference action Tuesday night.

As St. Mary’s (813, 7-6 CAC) owned a 63-61 lead with 10.2 seconds on the clock, Roberts picked off a pass by Wesley’s junior guard Cory Photo By Frank Marquart Boyd (Point Pleasant, Stephanie Saint-Aubin scored a game-high 25 points N.J./Point Pleasant) as the Seahawk women won their third straight game, and dribbled it to the defeating Wesley 65-61 Tuesday night. corner where Boyd committed the foul to send Roberts to the line with 1.1 ticks remaining in regulation. Roberts knocked them down both to secure the win.

Senior guard Stephanie Saint-Aubin (Bowie, Md./Elizabeth Seton) paced the Seahawks to victory with game-highs of 25 points and nine rebounds while freshman guard Pui Sham (Springfield, Va./W. Springfield) added 11. Junior guard Megan Seeman (Frederick, Md./Linganore) chipped in 10 points and matched her season-best of five boards.

Roberts’ play off the bench posted seven points, five caroms, seasonhigh four assists, and two steals as St. Mary’s solidified its fourth-place position in the CAC standings with tonight’s win, which splits the season series as Wesley had claimed a 72-66 win on January 9 in Dover.

Wesley (14-9, 8-6 CAC) turned the tables on the Seahawks in the second half as the Wolverines opened up the final 20 minutes with an 188 run to swing the momentum in their favor and boast their first lead of the game, leading by as many as 11 points twice in the half. Down 57-46 at 7:52, Saint-Aubin had a steal and fast break lay-up to spark St. Mary’s 16-4 run, regaining the lead with 2:06 to go.

Wesley was led in the game by junior forward Angie Owens (Seaford, Del./Seaford) who finished with 21 points on 10-of-15 shooting, adding five rebounds, three blocks, and three steals. Joining Owens in double figures was Boyd and freshman guard Jazmine Miller (Dover, Del./Dover) as the duo tallied 10 points each.

Boyd dished out a gamehigh eight assists while chipping in six boards and three steals.

The Seahawks surprised Wesley in the first half as the home team raced out to a 17-6 lead in the first seven minutes behind four threepointers, including a pair from Sham. However, the Wolverines quickly regained its composure and closed the gap to one-point with 6:56 left in the half. St. Mary’s built its lead back up to 32-25 following two free throws by Sham at 1:58.

Freshman forward Jasmine Barksdale (Pikesville, Md./Roland Park Country School) sent Photo By Frank Marquart Wesley into the locker St. Mary’s College’s Alex Wenger controls a re- room down only one bound in front of three Wesley players. with her trey at 00:27.

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Thursday, February 18, 2010

The County Times

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Dematha Rallies Past Ryken

By Chris Stevens Staff Writer

LEONARDTOWN – Close only counts in horseshoes and hand-grenades for St. Mary’s Ryken boys basketball coach Dave Tallman.

Photo By Chris Stevens

St. Mary’s Ryken’s Kai Smith looks for an open teammate during the Knights’ 74-62 loss to DeMatha Sunday afternoon.

“It seems like everybody in Southern Maryland is happy, but I’m not,” Tallman said after Washington Catholic Athletic Conference power DeMatha rallied for a 74-62 win over the host Knights Sunday afternoon. “We’re here to win basketball games, and we lost by 12. This was disappointing.”

Ryken (14-8 overall, 7-6 in WCAC play) led by as many seven points (44-37) in the late stages of the third quarter, and led as late as four minutes left in the fourth, but the Stags, led by junior guard Quinn Cook’s 28 points, went on a 21-8 burst to finish the game.

“St. Mary’s Ryken is a very good team, especially here,” said Stags head coach Mike

Jones. “We didn’t match their intensity for the first 28 minutes of the game, except for certain stretches in the first half.”

“They were hungrier this time around,” Cook said of the difference between Sunday and the Stags’ 78-63 win on January 12. “They were a lot more aggressive and we knew we had to turn it on.”

After Deon Andrews scored on an assist from Trent Walker, the Knights held a 54-53 lead when Cook and Andrews got tangled up on an inbound pass and went to the floor as the ball went into the backcourt. Cook sprinted to his feet, retrieved the ball and laid it in for the go-ahead basket. He finished off a 14-3 rush with a three-pointer in the right corner with 1:20 to go in the game, putting the Stags (21-3 overall, 12-1 WCAC) firmly in control with a 67-57 lead.

“We played really hard because we knew they could catch fire at any time,” said junior guard Treveon Graham, who led Ryken with 18 points. “They just hit the right shots.”

“They have an All-American player making big time shots when they needed it,” Tallman said of Cook, calling him “one of the best high school players I’ve ever seen.”

Although disappointed with the result, Tallman was hopeful the Knights, who were coming off a 74-61 win over Paul VI Saturday afternoon, could continue to play well going into the final week of the regular season.

“I saw some good things out there, and we’re going to take those things and try to get wins,” he said. The Knights got back in the win column on Monday with a 77-62 win over Montgomery County private school Don Bosco/Cristo Rey. chrisstevens@countytimes.net

Ryken’s Fejes Denver Bound

By Chris Stevens Staff Writer

It was fitting for St. Mary’s Ryken lacrosse player Will Fejes that he continued his athletic career playing for a coach who knows how to win.

The Knight senior was one of many Ryken players to sign a letter of intent to play college lacrosse last month, and Fejes’ choice was the University of Denver, where he will play for hall-of-famer Bill Tierney, one of the game’s all-time Photo By Chris Stevens great coaches.

“I’m a little nervous,” Fejes Accompanied by his parents Bill and Althea and St. Mary’s said of playing for Tierney, who Ryken staff and administrators, Will Fejes signs his letter of intent has won six NCAA men’s lacrosse to play lacrosse at the University of Denver. good education. It was 100 percent that I was championships at Princeton University before moving to the Rocky Moun- going there.”

Fejes will take this senior season to imtains. “But I’m definitely ready for a change.”

“Tierney’s unbelievable,” said Knights prove his skills in time for college, as well as head coach John Sothoron, a proven winner in help the Knights return to the Washington his own right. “He’s tough, demanding of his Catholic Athletic Conference championship kids like me, but Will is going to do well. He’s game, where they fell to DeMatha 9-7 last May. a super kid with a great work ethic.”

“Probably stick skill are the weakest part Fejes, who is undecided on a major, was also considering Towson, Salisbury, Lynch- of my game,” he said. “Knowing that I will be burg, UMBC and Loyola before deciding con- in Denver is a driving force to work hard and tinuing his education – and lacrosse career – at focus. I don’t want us to lose like we did last year.”

Denver was just too good to pass up.

“The landscape is a bonus with good lacrosse,” he said. “Most importantly, I can get a chrisstevens@countytimes.net

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THURSDAY February 12, 2010

Sheriff Warns Against Walking in Road After Fatal Crash

Story Page 12

Blues legend to Headline United Way Event

Story Page 24

Hornets Outlast leonardtown in Overtime

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Photo By Frank Marquart

Flying HigH Page 30