Thursday April 7, 2011
www.somd.com
Youths Will Forgo Food , Sleep in Boxes on Square
Story Page 16
Local Unemployment Rate Improves Story Page 4
Art Gallery to Open on Earth Day
Story Page 8
BOE Points Out Extra $10 M in Budget Story Page 14
Photo By Frank Marquart
What’s Inside
The County Times
Thursday, April 7, 2011
On T he Covers
ON THE FRONT
Madisyn Diggs and Justin Bowen demonstrate sleeping in boxes, which they will be doing overnight during the 30 Hour Famine April 15 - 17.
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ON THE BACK
Gregory Cecil, in the 19-27 intermediate class, came in 5th place in his race during Sunday’s opening day for the 2011 Southern Maryland BMX season.
We need “more old guys, so I don’t have to race guys 15 years younger than me while getting my butt handed to me.” Angel Systems Inc.
www.ANGELSYSTEMS.com
- Mike Schwartz, talking about his BMX racing hobby.
Weather
Watch
1.800.NO.BUGGS
P.O. Box 304 20775 Old Great Mills Rd. Great Mills, MD 20634
sports
During the Special Olympics 2011 Winter Games, Kayla Woolridge shows top form in her Bi-Unique ski, as her coach (and dad), Randy, skis behind. Next year Kayla will try skiing with a mono-ski. SEE PAGE 29
Don’t let unwanteD
Decorations swarm your tree this season!
Miss District of Columbia USA 2011 Heather Swann is a graduate of Great Mills High School and is moving on to the Miss USA pageant being held on June 19 and televised on NBC. SEE PAGE 18
money
Over the years, the mural in Leonardtown on the Olde Towne Insurance building has taken a beating. Efforts are underway now to repair the mural. SEE PAGE 8
Also Inside
Dan Burris
4 County News 7 Letters 8 Money 10 Crime 11 Obituaries 14 Education 15 Defense 16 Cover Story 18 Newsmakers 19 Community 22 Community Calendar 24 Entertainment Calendar 25 Entertainment 26 Games 27 Columns 28 Seniors 29 Sports 30 BMX Racing 31 Fishing
Gary Simpson
events calendar Auto • Home • Business • Life
Auto • Home • Business • Life Auto ••Home ••Business ••Life Auto Home Business Life
April Hancock
For The Community Calendar See Page 22 For Events Happening This Week.
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The County Times
Thursday, April 7, 2011
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The County Times
Thursday, April 7, 2011
4
ews Bill Seeks Better Bacteria County Unemployment Rate Testing in Restricted Waters Shows Improvement
By Guy Leonard Staff Writer
Local watermen and aquaculture business owners who have tried to make a living of harvesting oysters from local creeks have complained that the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has not tested the waters properly, causing them to be shut down or restricted, but a new bill that’s close to passing the state legislature could change all that. House Bill 966 requires the state inspectors to use more than one method to test for bacteria that can cause oyster harvesting in local creeks and waterways to be restricted. The new law specifies that MDE must change from testing for just e. coli bacteria to use “the most reliable available tests” to determine if the production area poses a public health risk as well as rule out contaminants like bacteria from rotting vegetation that do not present a hazard. The bill also compels MDE to reconsider restrictions on waterways by Dec. 31 of this year, giving particular consideration to areas with shellfish leases or aquaculture permits. Bob Parkinson, a waterman who has up until last year taken oysters out of St. Thomas Creek for eventual resale, com-
plained that MDE tests have come up with false positives that have resulted in his operations being shutdown. Parkinson told The County Times that he was told to cease operations in St. Thomas Creek in May of last year and the prohibition has not been lifted. Before that, he was able to take oysters out of the creek and lay them to rest in St. Jerome’s Creek in Ridge for a 14 day cleansing cycle — a process known as relaying — to make them safe for consumption, he said. Parkinson said that he hoped the new bill would help ease some of the restrictions imposed on him. He told the Board of County Commissioners during its Tuesday night public forum that the state rules were degrading his investments. “I’ve got $15,000 in oysters in there and I’m trying to figure out what to do,” he said. The bill was introduced and sponsored in the House by Southern Maryland delegates John F. Wood (D-Dist.29A), John Bohanan (D-Dist. 29 B) and House Minority Leader Anthony J. O’Donnell (R-Dist. 29C). guyleonard@countytimes.net
By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The county’s unemployment rate has dipped below 6 percent for the first time in many months according to the latest figures from the state’s Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. The numbers also show the number of people seeking work has actually increased from January to February. This is important because labor statisticians only count those still seeking employment as part of their overall analysis. For February, the unemployment rate decreased from 6.2 percent to 5.9 percent, state figures showed, putting the rate almost a full percentage point below the figure for the same time last year. Southern Maryland continues to be competitive in job growth and retention compared to jurisdictions like Montgomery and Howard counties, which now enjoy 5.1 percent unemployment. St. Mary’s is behind Calvert County slightly but just ahead of Charles County, the figures show, with Calvert showing the largest improvement over a year’s time by moving from a 7 percent unemployment rate to 5.7 percent. Bob Schaller, director of the county’s Department of Economic and Community
Development, said that the improvement, though relatively small, was good news. The actual number of people who found jobs from January to February was 416, according to state figures. “The trend is moving in the right direction; we still as a region are leading in unemployment,” Schaller said. “We’re still probably a couple of years away from where we’re used to being.” Schaller said that the 5.9 percent is still nearly twice what the county experienced before the recession hit and he doubted that the county would reclaim that level. Nationally, Schaller said, consumers and businesses had become used to largescale events, like the housing and construction boom in the past decade, turning the economy around. That was not likely to occur this time, he said, and consumers should brace for a much slower pace of recovery. “Text book recovery is one step at a time,” Schaller said. “There’s no single driver now.” The state’s unemployment rate remains almost unchanged at 7.1 percent, while the nation’s has shifted down slightly to 8.9 percent, state figures show. guyleonard@countytimes.net
5
The County Times
Thursday, April 7, 2011
ews Commissioners Hold Off on County Officials Hear Options to Privatize Golf Course Fees for Public Beaches By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Parks and recreation officials have told elected leaders they needed more money to pay for staffing at the county’s two public beaches at Myrtle Point and the Elms property this summer, but the Board of County Commissioners wants to know more before making a decision to levy fees for both county residents and visitors. Commissioner Dan Morris (R-Mechanicsville) said that the consensus of the board seems to be shifted away from charging county residents but perhaps collecting fees from out of town vacationers who have contributed to causing excessive traffic at both parks. “If it was just county people these parks wouldn’t be overflowing,” Morris said Tuesday. “They’re welcome to come here but please help with the costs.” County Recreation and Parks Department Director Phil Rollins proposed a fee schedule several weeks ago to commissioners that would have had county residents pay $5 per vehicle to enter the park on weekends and holidays starting Memorial Day through Labor Day while non-residents would pay $10 for each vehicle. The extra revenue would provide su-
“If it was just county people these parks wouldn’t be overflowing,” -Commissioner Dan Morris pervision and security staff at the crowded parks, Rollins said, who added this week that parks staff would have to change their analysis to see how much they would have to charge out of town visitors to meet the amount needed to hire extra workers. Rollins estimated that the fees would bring in about $38,800 between the two sites. Morris said that non-residents should be made to bear the brunt of the costs of new personnel at the parks. “That’s the general feeling [on the board]… our people pay enough taxes without having to pay a fee,” Morris said. County commissioners are looking to vote on a proposal in the coming weeks before the summer season begins in May, Morris said. guyleonard@countytimes.net
By Guy Leonard Staff Writer
The county’s parks and recreation director gave the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday options to privatize the restaurant at Wicomico Shores Golf Course, or even the entire operation there, but whether anyone will actually be interested in taking over the cashstrapped operation is unknown. Phil Rollins, in a later interview, told The County Times the county government would only find out once it sent out requests for qualifications to interested parties and got answers; that has yet to happen. “We’re waiting for more direction from commissioners,” Rollins said. “We don’t know whether there is any interest at this point … but I think there would be interest.” Rollins said that a privatization bid would be successful in making the golf course operations profitable again; and if commissioners waited, the golf course stood a good chance of returning to profitability on its own. He did not believe the course would have to be subsidized by taxpayers — its enterprise fund which has paid for its existence through fees and other revenues is now operating at a deficit — or closed down if it was not privatized. “Neither of those would be necessary,” Rollins said. In previous years the county’s Alcohol Beverage Board had ruled that privatizing the
restaurant’s operations would be untenable because a private contractor could not hold a liquor license while the county operated the course and allowed consumption of alcohol there. But now the beverage board has relented, Rollins told commissioners, but the county would have to allow consumption of alcohol on the course by permit similar to how public parks are run. However, an alcoholic beverage purchased in the restaurant would not be allowed onto the golf course if opened, Rollins said, but could be taken onto the course and then opened for consumption. If the county privatized the entire operation, a company with greater experience and expertise could be an asset, according to parks and recreation proposals, but there would still be no guarantees that revenues would increase to county accounts. Commissioner Todd Morgan (R-Great Mills) said he wanted to wait to see whether the coming golf season helped turn around the floundering operations at the course, but he said he would not be in favor of any kind of shutdown of the facility, which was rebuilt just a few years ago. “I would never say we were shutting it down,” Morgan said. “I think we’ll have to work through this process. “Why shouldn’t we have a publicly run golf course?”
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The County Times
Thursday, April 7, 2011
6
ews County Denies Developer Access What Critical Area Property Owners Need to Know Across Three Notch Trail By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Grafton LLC, the Silver Spring-based development company proposing to build the St. Mary’s Marketplace, has signaled that it may not move ahead with the project now that the Board of County Commissioners has decided to not allow it a right of way access point across an old rail line that runs parallel to Route 235. The board voted unanimously Tuesday to deny the developer’s request. In a letter to the county commissioners dated March 28, the company said that without the right of way it could not get its planned main access point directly off Route 235 to enter into the 110,000 square foot development and would then not be able to attract the kind of tenants desired for the project. The proposed development is slated for construction near the intersection of Routes 4 and 235 in California. “Throughout our negotiations with potential new tenants considering locating in St. Mary’s [County], the critical point in solidifying their commitment is confirming the approval of the direct access onto Route 235, since that would provide maximum exposure and convenient access to their businesses,” the letter read. Phil Sanders, the manager for the company who wrote the letter, said in a later interview that the project was not officially cancelled, but that access on the county’s main highway was still critical. “We are looking at other possibilities,” Sanders said, stating that building the center without the access other centers on 235 enjoyed would “put them at a competitive disadvantage.”
During the regular Tuesday meeting several commissioners voiced their concerns that pedestrians and cyclists who would use that portion of what is known as Three Notch Trail, which would have to be crossed to get into the shopping center, would not be safe in competing with incoming traffic. They were also worried that a planned tenant, Food Lion grocery store, would mean the uprooting of the current store further south on Route 235, leaving just a vacant building. Commissioner Dan Morris (R-Mechanicsville) said that such a possibility amounted to “an eye sore” if left vacant. “I just don’t want our walkers and bikers in jeopardy,” Morris said of concerns over pedestrian safety. Sanders said that the county should not try to forestall the possible vacancy of an anchor at the Laurel Glen Shopping Center. “They are trying to prevent something that the market should do on it’s own,” Sanders said. Commissioner Larry Jarboe (R-Golden Beach) said that in not granting the right of way to the developer, the county kept its options open if it ever wanted to use the trail as a basis for a form of public transportation, even if it was decades away. “An alternative form of transportation could benefit the county,” Jarboe said. John Norris, the design engineer representing the developer, said that the county could have come to a compromise on pedestrian safety and still allowed for the right of way to be transferred. “I think they stepped beyond where they’re supposed to be guiding things,” Norris said. guyleonard@countytimes.net
By Sarah Miller Staff Writer
For some individuals in St. Mary’s County, building additions to their homes or developing their land is a challenge. This is especially true for people living within 1,000 feet of tidal waters – a location known as the Critical Area. Derick Berlage, the County’s director of land use and growth management, said the standards for getting a variance in the critical area buffer come from the state and are written into the local zoning ordinances. In total, there are seven standards that landowners who want to build in the critical area buffer have to prove that their cases fulfill. The seven standards include proving that special conditions or circumstances exist that are peculiar to the land or structure involved and that strict enforcement of the Critical Area provisions of this Ordinance would result in unwarranted hardship; that strict interpretation of the Critical Area provisions will deprive the applicant of rights commonly enjoyed by other properties in similar areas within the Critical Area; that the granting of a variance will not confer upon an applicant any special privilege that would be denied by the Critical Area provisions of the ordinance to other lands or structures within the Critical Area. Individuals also have to prove that the variance request is not based upon conditions or circumstances that are the result their own actions; that the granting of a variance will not adversely affect water quality wildlife, or plant habitat within the Critical Area; that the granting of the variance will be in harmony with the general spirit and intent of the Critical Area program; and, that the variance is the minimum necessary to achieve a reasonable use of land or structures. Chris Longmore, an attorney who has handled critical area variances in St. Mary’s and Calvert Counties, said it’s important to look at the whole property in question and determine if there is a location outside the 100-foot buffer that separates development from the water. “I’ve been very pleased with our board of appeals,” Longmore said. He said the board members have gone out to sites personally to see the place being debated, as well as taking every scrap of a case under consideration. He said the law is pretty clear, but getting a variance in the critical area buffers is more difficult than getting a regular variance. For a normal variance, Longmore said the board can outweigh some areas they don’t have a heavy case for with areas they have a big case for. In Critical Area cases, they have to hit all seven standards, and prove that denial of the variance will result in an unwarranted hardship, or the case will be dead in the water. Berlage echoed Longmore’s statement, saying the people seeking variances are “getting treatment that is exceptional, special and unusual,” and they need to have their cases solid before going before the Board of Appeals. Individuals who receive variances to build or clear trees or other plants in the critical buffer zone will also have to replant the vegetation at a three to one ratio on a different location. To the extent that it can be done, the Critical Area commission also tries to make sure the replanting is done in a different area of the site being cleared. Berlage said the Department of Land Use and Growth Management is also in the midst of discussions with the critical area commission to make it easier for people to get variances in the buffers. He said any actions they are considering are not finished and not approved, but they are trying. “We’ve had a lot of meetings,” Berlage said.
Court Rules in Favor of Social Services’ Investigative Powers
By Guy Leonard Staff Writer
Engagement Announcement
On September 11, 2010, Tiffany Tedore, 19 of St. Mary’s County and Cory Kuchta, 19 of St. Mary’s County were engaged at their family home in Callaway. The couple will be married on Saturday, July 30, 2011 in Bay District Volunteer Fire Department. The bride is the daughter of Lee and Crystal Tedore. The groom is the son of John and Laura Kuchta. The newlyweds will spend their honeymoon in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The couple is registered at Amazon.com, Walmart and Target.
The state Court of Special Appeals has ruled that the county’s Department of Social Services (DSS) acted properly in investigating allegations of child sexual abuse reported to have been committed by a 15-year-old male in 2007 in St. Mary’s County, even though the victim lived out of state. According to an April 1 filing, the appellant who sued the county’s social services provider, known only as David N. in court documents, argued that DSS “had no power to investigate the report of suspected child abuse made against him in this case.” The recent ruling stated that the social services department not only had the authority to investigate the case, but was bound by law to do so. Court documents revealed that in May of 2007, David N., a resident of Frederick County, attended a picnic at a summer home here, where the alleged victim, a 4-year-old Virginia resident, was also in attendance. Sometime after the picnic, David was alleged to have committed an act of sexual abuse against the girl, who was also his cousin — court papers state that he later stipulated to such an act — but claimed that the department did not have the authority under the law to investigate the claim. An administrative law judge agreed with the defendant and in a December 2008 decision granted his motion to dismiss the allegations. The decision that supported the actions of the county’s social services office extended to all social services departments in other Maryland counties, the ruling stated.
7
Thursday, April 7, 2011
The County Times
Guest Editorial:
Governing by Emergency By Marta Hummel Mossburg
I can see the headline now: “Malls packed in Maryland due to federal government shutdown.” This state is so rich that a few days off the job will hardly garage all of the Lexuses, BMWs and Mercedes roaming Montgomery County that are paid for with taxpayer dollars. In fact, a shutdown would probably make it harder to find an outside cafe table, weather permitting. Such is the life in Gov. Martin O’Malley’s “One Maryland,” where the rich keep getting richer and the poor poorer, according to government statistics, and state legislators can’t find enough disenfranchised people to subsidize. But the party will end. As the saying goes, what is not sustainable can’t be sustained. It’s glaringly obvious in the case of Rocky Gap Lodge. The 13-year-old taxpayer-subsidized golf resort in Western Maryland has never been able to cover its debt payments and has generated zero interest from casino developers. The spot is one of five in the state approved for slots. Lawmakers finally seem serious this year in offloading the property. The Senate voted to cut the tax on gambling revenue to 50 percent and eliminate a requirement to build a separate building to house slots to attract a buyer. The reason for action: bondholders want out. “It is very important” that the incentive package passes, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. told The (Baltimore) Sun. “The bondholders have reached the breaking point. They’ve said this is the last year.” If lawmakers’ wages were garnished to pay for the folly it might have ended more quickly. But the bondholders’ ultimatum should serve as a warning for elected officials that they cannot
run the rest of state government like Rocky Gap with impunity. Unfortunately, the long lag time between the realization Rocky Gap was a failure and legislative action shows that Maryland’s elected officials do not act until forced. That’s obvious in the new budget, which once again raises fees, taxes, issues debt and shifts money from fund to fund to technically balance the budget while leaving at least $1 billion “structural” deficits in coming years and the looming cloud of higher taxes. They are all but certain, as Comptroller Peter Franchot said recently, Maryland is spending every cent and has no reserve capacity. It is also not paying its current retiree health care and pension bill in full, making budget problems worse in coming years. While it has been easy to raise taxes historically -- something ratings agencies recognize by granting Maryland a AAA bond rating -- taxpayers could say “no.” Even those who make their living from the federal government could get religion if lucrative defense contracts dry up, as is being debated, or Republicans gain control of both houses and re-evaluate Maryland’s cushy relationship with Washington. It would be heartening if legislators acted before the state faces a budget meltdown, however. Imagine if Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. said this week: “It is very important we make Maryland more competitive for business. The taxpayers have reached the breaking point. They’ve said this is the last year.” Marta H. Mossburg is a senior fellow at the Maryland Public Policy Institute and a fellow at the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity
Schools Continue to Be Proactive for Student Safety Last week, it was brought to our attention that a Great Mills High School staff member was allegedly involved in exchanging inappropriate notes and electronic messages with a student. This is an improper relationship. This unfortunate situation was dealt with in a swift and cooperative manner by school system staff, the Department of Social Services, and the Sheriff’s Department. In light of this incident, I have again reinforced to school system staff my ongoing directive that all school system employees must always conduct themselves in a responsible and professional manner at all times. Every employee of St. Mary’s County Public Schools is expected to uphold high standards when working with our students, and must always exercise good judgment in our interactions with them. All candidates for employment are given thorough background checks to prevent anyone with a history of abuse or inappropriate conduct from gaining employment. Each year, every staff member is required to attend a Child Abuse/ Sexual Harassment (CASH) in-service. It is our individual and collective responsibility to immediately report any suspected cases of child abuse/ sexual harassment. Our staff will continue to be vigilant in the area. Additionally, the Board of Education of St. Mary’s County’s policy on staff/student relations, Policy JFA states:
The relationship between the teacher and the student should be professional at all times and one of cooperation, understanding, and mutual respect, but not rise to the level of fraternization. The teacher has a responsibility to provide an atmosphere conducive to learning, and to motivate each student to perform to his/her capacity. Teachers and students should not be engaged in non-school related communications with each other, including electronic communications, unless under the supervision of the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s). Note: “Electronic communications” include, but are not limited to, emails, instant messaging, and social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc. St. Mary’s County Public Schools has and will continue to review and implement measures to foster both a positive and safe school environment. Safety and security in the schools is of the utmost importance, and each staff member is committed to providing the best learning environment possible for all students. The bottom line is that, while students are in school during the school day, they are under our care and our protection, and we will do everything possible to keep them safe. Michael J. Martirano, Superintendent St. Mary’s County Public Schools
To The Editor:
Would We Wait a Year to Fix Collapsed School? We have recently seen several stories on the county teachers and their supporters bemoaning the fact that they can’t have every dollar in the county budget. The “protestors” were only too happy to be asked their views on the audacity of the St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners to propose that county schools be funded in accordance with state law! I would like to bring two points to the discussion that, so far, seem to have been ignored. The first is that this county, much like the rest of the country, is comprised of three generational age groups; children, adults, and seniors. A very large part of the county budget is devoted to children, and rightly so. They must be educated and given the tools they need to succeed in life. They have well-maintained schools, transportation, and organized afterhours sports and recreational activities to help them become intelligent and productive adults. There are parks, libraries, and social clubs that serve the needs of families and friends. The senior citizens have, or should I say HAD, three centers where they could go and enjoy a hot meal, socialize with people their own age, and participate in a wide variety of activities. While Garvey and the Northern Center are still functioning, Loffler continues to sit unrepaired for over a year. While an alternative site has been established, it fails to provide anywhere near the same level of support that Loffler provided. Perhaps our educators fail to realize that they have not been asked to do without one of their schools for over a year. I’m sure that if a school had collapsed when Loffler did, we would not be waiting over a year to have repair started. Hopefully our enlightened educators will see the inequity of this situation and begin to lobby for the rectification of this woeful mistreatment of their student’s grandparents. I’m sure, for many children, the plight of their grandparents negatively impinges on their ability to focus on their schoolwork. The second point I’d like to make is the role of unions and collective bargaining, specifically as they relate to our educational pro-
fessionals. Unions were formed to protect the rights of individual workers and collective bargaining is generally used for public employees to avoid a strike and the associated absence of necessary public services such as police, firefighters, and teachers. In prosperous times, unions have won higher pay, better working conditions, and fringe benefits for their membership. Every union states that it has their member’s best interests at heart, even if this is only lip service. I say this because when the economy tanks, as it has for the last three plus years, governments (and other employers) must request those same unions to “give back” some of the costs they have won in more prosperous times. Just like individual families, governments must balance their budgets to match their income. If revenues drop, so must expenditures. We now see Wisconsin Republicans trying to do just that; reduce expenditures to match revenue. We also see many unions in that state saying “We’re not giving up anything. Go ahead and fire people.” That makes it clear that these unions are not there for their membership. If they were, they would be willing to “give back” costs to protect the jobs of ALL their membership. I hope that our county educators read these words and that it causes them to realize that they are not being persecuted. We must address all the needs of the community and give due consideration to the revenue pie that is to be divided and ensure all members are treated fairly. These endless demands for more educational funding at the expense of the needs of others and declining revenues will, in the long run, prove counterproductive and alienate the community against them rather than win them more funding. It is time to face life’s realities. All things are cyclical, times will improve and concessions will be recovered. In the meantime, try to be a little objective. Please? Glenn Weder Hollywood, MD
School System Must Set Priorities, Not The Commissioners
First let me make it clear that Education is important. If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. However, money is not the only metric in measuring success of the Public School System. Private, Parochial, and other Church sponsored schools produce more with less money. There may be more than one factor contributing to this disparity, but the primary one is due to the fact that the Public School System is a government bureaucracy. And, as with any government bureaucracy, it has a propensity to grow at taxpayers’ expense; and, as with any bureaucracy, there is always room for cuts, consolidations, and improved efficiencies. But, those associated with the School System, including the Teachers’ Association/ Union, are adept at working the political game to get more money by playing on sympathies. However, in these tough economic times, the School System must tighten their belt and set
priorities along with everyone else. When last year the Superintendent of Schools, and others, proposed spending $2.4 million to put Astroturf on our high school athletic fields in these tough economic times, it demonstrated just how out of touch bureaucrats, and politicians, can be when spending tax money. And during that same time frame, I hear parents complain that all students do not have textbooks. Where are their priorities? Should textbooks for all students not be a priority over a hierarchy of highly paid administrators and assistants? Parents must put the heat on the School System to set priorities rather than pressuring the County Commissioners, and ultimately the taxpayers, for more, more, more. Joe Wible Sr. Leonardtown, MD
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Art Gallery to Open Earth Day By Sarah Miller Staff Writer
“I think it’s going to be a place where artists can work in a community together,” Hance said. The new Leonardtown Arts Center is Hance also works with metal, but in nearly ready for its soft opening on Leon- the form of metal clay that can be moldardtown Square during the town’s Earth ed like clay than fired into a fine metal Day celebration April 17. product. So far, three artists have taken up resHance said she has had gallery space idence in the new gallery. The artists are and shows on the other side of the bridge, Cynthia Rosenblatt, Barbara Hance and and taught classes at the College of SouthAngie Wathen, all of whom work with dif- ern Maryland – but the arts center is someferent mediums and crafts. thing new. Rosenblatt is a metal worker who “I was excited about it from the moworks with gold, silver, copper and bronze, ment I heard of it,” Hance said. among other metals. She said she creates She said having a space at the arts anything from wall pieces to jewelry. center will give her the opportunity to Rosenblatt said she got into metal network, educate people and answer quessmithing during a jewelry making class tions all in the comfort of her own studio she once took. space. She’s looking forward to the oppor“I fell in love with it,” Rosenblatt said. tunity to educate people about her chosen She said she believes the gallery will medium. be a great addition to the square and an opWathen is a sculptor, though she said portunity to spark interest in people who she works with all mediums, and focuses want to get involved in the arts but are on abstract art. She said she has also dabafraid to try. bled in photography, painting and other art Rosenblatt plans on teaching met- forms. al smithing classes, as well as allowWathen said the arts center is ing people to watch her work. She said something she has been waiting for in she has taught classes in the past and is Leonardtown. pleased to have the opportunity to do so in “I always through it would be cool to Leonardtown. have something in downtown Leonard“For me, it’s just what I wanted to do,” town,” she said. Rosenblatt said. She said she sees the arts center as a She said the most appealing part of compliment to the North End Gallery, and being in the new arts center is having the doesn’t see them competing for customability to teach classes. ers. She also said Joe Orlando, the owner QBH St M County TImes Half Ad:Layout 1 3/1/11 3:28 PM Page 1 Hance is also looking forward to the of Fenwick Street Used Books and Music, opening of the arts center. was the driving force behind the gallery.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
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Time Takes a Toll on Leonardtown Mural By Sarah Miller Staff Writer On the side of the Olde Towne Insurance building in Leonardtown there is a mural depicting life in the town from the 1800s to the 1950s. Dan Burris, the owner of Olde Towne Insurance, said the mural has been in place for the past 20 years, and was commissioned from local college students before he took up residency in the building. Over the years, the mural has taken a beating. In addition to the normal wear and tear from being out in the elements, it was broken up during a blizzard. Burris said when he went to put the mural back in place, he discovered it was made in sections. A three-inch hole was also put into the mural during the blizzard. Burris said the painting is like wallpaper pasted onto the sections rather than painted on directly. The mural depicts various time periods in Leonardtown’s history, according to the information provided on the town’s website, leonardtown.somd.com/mural. html. The left side of the painting presents an older time period with the chronology advancing to a point in the mid 1950s on the right. The time frame drops back to the 1860s toward the middle where there is a sepiatoned section depicting Congressman Benjamin Gwinn Harris is being arrested on April 26, 1865,
on the porch of the Fenwick Hotel, for his opposition to the Civil War, the website reads. The mural scene was designed and painted by Tim Scheirer, Carla Tomaszewski, and Clarence Schumaker. Burris said he’s not looking into actually restoring the mural “for financial reasons,” but he will be getting it fastened more securely to the side of the building during the summer. On the town’s part, they are selling prints of the mural to raise money for its upkeep. Prints are available at the town office and portions of the sale of the prints will benefit the Mural Fund. For other fund raising efforts, see Leonardtown’s calendar of events on the website. sarahmiller@countytimes.net
Photo by Sarah Miller
MHBR No. 103
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for the love of
Money
The County Times
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Buy Local for Less in the area. A couple of those places include Vintage Values and the Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore. Ron Stone, the manager of Vintage Values, said they carry clothing and household items at a reasonable price. It also “gives the community a chance to get rid of unwanted items,” he said. Photo by Sarah Miller There are three current branches of Linda Knott, a Leonardtown local, runs the cash register at Vintage Values. Vintage Values; in Lexington Park, Leonardtown and Prince Fredrick. A fourth branch By Sarah Miller is planned to open in Charlotte Hall in May, Staff Writer Stone said. In addition to providing the people in the county with deals, At a department store, an individual can find a vintage look Vintage Values is an offshoot of the Center for Life Enrichment, that’s all the rage and pay the price for it. At a thrift store, a per- and the bulk of the employees are persons with disabilities. Stone son can get the same look for a fraction of the price. said it gives them an opportunity to socialize and develop marIn St. Mary’s County, there are several places people can ketable skills, like working in retail. buy gently used items for less than any of the large chain stores “They enjoy coming here,” Stone said.
He said the proceeds from Vintage Values go back to the Center for Life Enrichment to fund other programs. Another place in St. Mary’s County individuals can go to buy household items is the ReStore in Lexington Park, run by the Habitat for Humanity. Unlike Vintage Values, the ReStore carries hardware and household items but no clothing. Chris Warren, the ReStore director, said the items they get in are cleaned and repaired if necessary and sold at a price between 10 and 50 percent of what they would be sold for at a retail outlet. He said people also come in to find items that can’t be fixed but can be used for spare parts. Warren said the ReStore is almost entirely volunteer run, and the proceeds go to benefit Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity isn’t the only entity that can benefit from the ReStore either. Warren said people who donate their unwanted or unneeded items to the ReStore can receive tax credits, which means the savings don’t stop at shopping at the thrift stores.
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The County Times
Police: Two Arrested in Major Prescription Drug Ring
Thursday, April 7, 2011
10
High School Teacher Charged With Sex Offense
By Guy Leonard Staff Writer
By Guy Leonard Staff Writer
The arrest of two suspects who had allegedly used false prescriptions to obtain large amounts of oxycodone in various locations both in and outside St. Mary’s County has put a dent in the local illegal pill trade, said the commander of the county’s vice/narcotics unit, but not before they were able to purloin $151,000 worth of the drug. “There’s no question they were the driving force,” said Capt. Daniel Alioto of the allegations against Barbara Ann Sneden and Craig Michael Ringler, both of Mechanicsville. Sneden has been charged with possession of narcotics and possession with intent to distribute, according to court documents. Ringler, who was at large at the time of the indictment, was arrested Tuesday night, Alioto said. Alioto said that the two defendants allegedly used sto- Craig Michael Ringler len prescription pads to fraudulently obtain oxycodone from sources in as many as four to five counties in locations as far away as Largo in Prince George’s County. Vice/narcotics information stated that there were more than 56 fraudulent prescriptions used to illegally obtain the drugs. Alioto said that officers are already starting to arrest 14 other suspects connected to this case for various misdemeanor offenses. Both suspects passed some of the fraudulent prescriptions, as did third parties, Alioto alleged. “To put an end to this and not have to chase those scripts is a big relief,” Alioto said. “But I’m sure there will be another couple right behind them.”
A Great Mills High School teacher has been suspended from his job after police charged him with a fourth-degree sex offense over the weekend. According to charging documents Jonathan David Cooney, 26, of Lexington Park used a teacher’s notebook and a Facebook account to allegedly send sexually provocative messages to the female student over a period of several days this month. Cooney was not jailed but was served with a criminal summons stating the charges. The alleged victim in the case told a school counselor about what she believed was Cooney’s inappropriate behavior towards her, which started back in February when she said he tried to befriend her, court papers stated. The victim told police that she trusted Cooney when he tried to start a relationship and that she did not believe he was engaging in inappropriate behavior. But that changed on March 11 when Cooney allegedly started passing notes to the student during class with suggestive messages in his own notebook, stating that he had dreams of “intense sex” with the victim while they were
both in the classroom as well as in the rafters of the school, according to charging documents. Over the next two days he sent messages to her on her Facebook account asking about her home life, implying that her parents were to strict and also wrote “poke, poke, poke! Think that is inappropriate?” charging documents stated. In a later post to her account he asked her if she ever snuck out of her house and said he felt that she was like a “caged animal and should be freed!” charging documents stated. On March 14 the victim talked to a counselor about what had been going on between the two, court papers stated, and said that Cooney had tried to engage her in some kind of sexual contact; that same day school officials took statements from both the victim and Cooney. The next day Cooney came in to school and dropped off a lesson plan, court papers state, but when investigators tried to find the notebook he had allegedly used to send lurid messages to the victim it was missing from his classroom. Detective William Raddatz said he went to execute a search warrant on Cooney’s home and the defendant told him that he had destroyed both the notebook and closed down the Facebook account.
Credit Union Bandit Gets Life Sentence
guyleonard@countytimes.net Barbara Ann Sneden
Philip H. Dorsey III Attorney at Law
-Serious Personal Injury CasesLEONARDTOWN: 301-475-5000 TOLL FREE: 1-800-660-3493 EMAIL: phild@dorseylaw.net
By Guy Leonard Staff Writer
Cornelius Leroy Chase, 49, the man convicted last year of robbing the Cedar Point Federal Credit Union in Leonardtown almost seven years ago, continually objected to the judicial proceedings last week at his sentencing hearing, lambasting both the judge and prosecutor for trying him on circumstantial evidence and even his own public defense attorney for not providing a strong enough defense. But his day in court did not help him avert a life sentence from Circuit Court Judge C. Clarke Raley. Raley, who read off a litany of other violent offenses for which Chase had been convicted over the years including his numerous convictions in the credit union heist, gave Chase an additional 40 years on top of the life sentence as Chase continually tried to interrupt him protesting his situation. “It’s all lies, you’re a liar,” Chase protested Friday during his sentencing for the 2004 armed robbery in which several tellers were held against their will. “You won’t be honored when you retire. “You’re going to go to hell for that,” Chase said. Chase protested that he could not have been properly re-indicted for the heist after the indictment was discussed several years ago; the Chase case also went on for years because he was deemed both competent and then incompetent to stand trial several times.
Prior to the sentencing hearing April 1, both the prosecutors and the defense lawyers agreed only to pursue a minimum sentence of 25 years without the possibility of parole, but Raley doled out his own sentence, which has often been his practice. “The public defender has done its level best to represent Chase,” Raley said, adding that during his own trial Chase had not cooperated with his attorney John Getz. “The defense had no defense,” Raley said. “This is the sentence I hand out to this recalcitrant criminal.” Chase told Getz he did not want him to continue his legal services in the case, but Getz continued to protest the judge’s decision after the hearing by saying it was illegal. Getz argued that since the defense and prosecution had agreed to a sentencing of 25 years without parole prior to the hearing that Raley acted improperly in abrogating that agreement. Getz said that the prosecution did not procedurally move ahead against Chase for four crimes of violence, instead only pressing ahead on three, which did not allow for a life sentence. One victim in the case who attended the hearing said they were pleased with the outcome. “I’m glad I was there to see that,” the victim said.
Traffic Stop Leads To Arrest, Charges For Narcotics While In Detention
www.dorseylaw.net
On April 3, at approximately 3:30 a.m. Dfc. Meyer stopped a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe for a traffic violation. The operator was identified as Omigar Ralph Jefferies, Jr., 26, of Park Hall. Police investigation revealed Jefferies’ privilege to operate a motor vehicle in Maryland was suspended. He was arrested for driving while suspended and transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention Center. Once at the detention center, a search of Jefferies’ person and clothing was conducted and he was found to be in possession of a controlled dangerous substance, suspected marijuana, police reported. Jefferies was charged additionally with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance while in a place of confinement, and possession of contraband in a place of confinement.
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Thursday, April 7, 2011
Hazel Albert, 91 Hazel Albert, 91, of Waldorf, MD, formerly of Leonardtown, MD died March 18, 2011 at her residence. Born March 28 1919 in Long Island, NY, she was the daughter of late Henry J. and Edith Barnett Ward. Ms. Albert is survived by her children; Phil Albert of Mechanicsville, MD and Ellen Albert Armitage (Norman) of Rio Hondo, TX, a grandson John Albert and a great-grandson Ryan Albert. She is also survived by her niece Joan Sulzman and nephews; Gary Rossman and Andrew Rossman. Ms. Albert was a sales person for the former Leonardtown Laundry and was a manager for a trailer park in California, MD. She enjoyed gardening, crafts and crocheting. The funeral services for Mrs. Albert are private. Contributions in memory of Ms. Hazel Albert can be made to Hospice of Charles County Inc., P.O. Box 1703, La Plata, MD 20646. To leave a condolence for the family please visit www.mgf h.com. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A, Leonardtown, MD.
Clyde Beebe, 79 Clyde Spencer Beebe, 79, of Charlotte Hall, MD, passed away April 1, 2011 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Leonardtown, MD. Born December 2, 1931 in Warren, PA, he was the son of the late Susie and Orrie Beebe. Clyde was an accomplished chef having worked in Massachusetts, Maryland and the D.C. area. In recent years, he lived at Broomes Island, MD. He enjoyed being near the water where he could enjoy his first love - fishing. Since May, 2008, he had been living at the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home. Clyde is survived by his sister, Joyce E. Parreco of Silver Spring, MD and Maxine B. Hufnagel of Lancaster, PA; also five children by his former marriages. Private services are being handled by Brinsfield-Echols Funeral Home, P.A., 30195 Three Notch Rd., Charlotte Hall, MD.
Ellen Mattingly, 86 Ellen Mary Mattingly, 86, of Leonardtown, MD, died April 1, 2011 in Leonardtown, MD. Born on May 13, 1924 in Bryantown, MD, she was the daughter of the late Steven and Adele Burch Montgomery. She was the loving wife of the late Francis Desales Mattingly whom she married on November 24, 1945 in St. Aloysius Catholic Church; he preceded her in death on December 11, 2000. Mrs. Mattingly is survived by her children; Inez Frazier, Sue Frannie Hilsinger, Roger Mattingly, LeRoy Mattingly, and six grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son Philip King whom she loved so dearly.
The County Times
Ellen lived in Leonardtown, MD most of her life, and was a member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church. She worked for the C & P Telephone Company in Network Operations for 25 years. Her past activities were shopping and traveling. Ellen graduated from Franklin High School, Baltimore, MD and attended Charles County Community College. Ellen was very devoted to her family and to her church. The family received friends on Tuesday, April 5, 2011 in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home where prayers were recited. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Wednesday, April 6, 2011 in St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Leonardtown, MD with Fr. John Dakes officiating. Interment followed in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, MD. Pallbearers were; Inez Maria Mattingly, Roger Lee Mattingly, LeRoy Burch, George Higgs, Jason Hostetler, and Todd Mattingly. Honorary pallbearers were; The Telephone Pioneers, Catholic Daughter of America, St. Mary’s Hospital Auxiliary, Ladies of Charity, Father Andrew White School C.C.D. teacher, and all of her wonderful friends at St. Aloysius Church, whom she loved very much. Contributions may be made in memory of Ellen Mary Mattingly to the St. Aloysius Catholic Church, P.O. Box 310, Leonardtown, MD 20650, and/ or Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 50, Leonardtown, MD 20650. To leave a condolence for the family please visit www.mgf h.com. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A, Leonardtown, MD.
Predeceased by a brother, Glen D. Mesmer. A Life Celebration will be held on Thursday, April 7, 2011 from 6 - 8 p.m. and Friday, April 8, 2011 from 10 - 10:45 a.m. at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Lexington Park, MD where Funeral Services will follow at 11 a.m. on Friday with Bishop Dennis Reed officiating. Interment will follow at Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, MD. Memorial contributions may be made to: Hospice of St. Mary’s, PO Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Arrangements provided by Brinsfield-Echols Funeral Home, P.A., Charlotte Hall, MD.
Edna Thompson, 91 Edna Dean Thompson, 91, of Hollywood, MD, died March 29, 2011 in California, MD. Born on December 16, 1919 in Baltimore, MD, she was the daughter of late Bernard S. and Ethel E. Gatton Dean. She was the loving wife of the late Andrew Latelle Thompson whom
Serving St. Mary's County Since 1978
Sandra Rose, 50 Sandra Michelle Rose, 50 of California, MD, died on April 4, 2011 at Hospice House, Callaway, MD. Born on April 3, 1961 in Patchogue, Long Island, NY, she was the daughter of Peter M. and Arline J. Suhr Mesmer. Sandra worked for a Hotel as an Assistant Manager Desk Clerk. She was a member of LDS Relief Society. She attended Great Mills High School and LDS Business College in Salt Lake City, Utah. Sandra taught seminary and Institute classes, also taught Sunday school and genealogy classes. She devoted many years to genealogy of her own family. She also worked as an ordinance worker in The Washington Temple for many years. In addition to her parents, she is also survived by her husband, Danny R. Rose, siblings, Sheryl L. Mesmer, of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, Cindy L. Mesmer-Freret of Chantilly, VA, Anne M. Mesmer Tippet, of Damascus, MD, Michael M. Mesmer, of Lexington Park, MD, Wm. R. Mesmer, of California, MD, and Andrew S. Mesmer, of Palm Coast, FL, and Dale A. Mesmer, of Franklinville, NC, 28 nieces and nephews, and 4 grand nephews and 1 grand niece.
she married on November 27, 1937, he preceded her in death on November 7, 2006. Mrs. Thompson is survived by her children; Tim Thompson and his wife Helen of Mechanicsville, MD, Barbara Thompson Waldroupe , Rodney Thompson and his wife Jeanette, Jerry Thompson and his wife Linda all of Hollywood, MD. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Thompson was preceded in death by her siblings, Melvin L. Dean, Harvey Dean, Lesley Dean, Dorothy Thompson, Myres Dean, John C. Dean and Nelson C. Dean. Mrs. Thompson was the valedictorian for her Great Mills High School class of 1936. A lifelong resident of St. Mary’s County, she was an Accountant Supervisor for the Comptroller Dept. of the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, retiring in 1976. Mrs. Thompson was devoted to her family and to her church. The family received friends on Sunday April 3, 2011 in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home where prayers were recited. A Funeral Service was held on Monday, April 4, 2011 in the Hollywood Church of the Nazarene with Rev. Verne Haskell officiating and Rev. Philip Thompson co-officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery. Pallbearers were Andrew Thompson, Richard Menard, P. Wade Thompson, Adam Chesser, James L. Thompson and Tony Evans. Contributions may be made in memory Edna Dean Thompson to the Hollywood Church of the Nazarene, 24710 Sot-
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Thursday, April 7, 2011
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Continued A visitation was held on Sunday, April 3, 2011 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 44078 St. Andrew’s Church Road, California, MD 20619. A memorial service was held on Monday, April 4, 2011 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 44078 St. Andrew’s Church Road, California, MD 20619. Inurnment followed in the church cemetery. The family requests that any memorial gifts be made to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 600, California, MD 20619, the Hollywood Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 79, Hollywood, MD 20636 or the Chopticon Field Hockey Scholarship Fund. Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.
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terley Road, Hollywood, MD 20636 and/ or Hollywood Vol. Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 79, Hollywood, MD 20636. To leave a condolence for the family please visit www.mgf h.com. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A, Leonardtown, MD.
Virginia Williams, 78 Virginia Janet Williams, “Ginger”, 78 of Hollywood, MD passed away on Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at Chesapeake Shores Nursing Center, Lexington Park, MD. Born September 7, 1932 in Evanston, IL she was the daughter of the late Ulysses Grant Wolfram and Ruth Anna (Evertson) Wolfram. Beloved friend of Nancy J. Bottorf and Jack L. Bottorf; loving surrogate mother of Mark Y. Bottorf (Teri McCleaf) and Anne Elizabeth Vallandingham (Tim); and sister of Stuart Allen Wolfram (Cyndi). She is survived by grandchildren Samantha Bottorf, Ashley Kastronis (Chris), Tanya Bottorf, Shane Bottorf, Caitlin
Brown, Jack Brown, Hannah Vallandingham, and Blayre Vallandingham; nephews Stephen Wolfram (Donna) and Mark Wolfram, great niece’s, Meaghan, and Kaylee Wolfram, great nephew’s, Trey, Eli, and Adam Wolfram, and great grandson Tristan Kastronis. She was a graduate of Maine Township High School, Des Plaines, Ill. She furthered her education by attending Blackburn College, Carlinville, Ill. and received a B.S. in History and she obtained her Masters Degree in counseling from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. She began her educational career as a Dean of Women at Bucknell University, PA and Towson University, MD. She began her teaching and counseling career at Greenbelt Junior High School and Nicholas Orem Junior High School and later became the student teacher coordinator for the University of Maryland in Prince George’s County, MD. In 1971, relocated to St. Mary’s County where she taught history at Chopticon High School, then became the guidance counselor at Esperanza Middle School, returning to Chopticon High School as head of the counseling department, and ended her career at Margaret Brent Middle School in 1997. She was a world traveler, an avid sports fan, most especially of her “Cubbies” and the Redskins. She was a loyal score keeper for the Chopticon Field Hockey Team and the team’s number one fan. She was a true friend, loyal confidant, and great second mother.
Kermit Zerby, 65 Kermit Richard Zerby, 65, of Melbourne, FL, formerly of Lexington Park, MD died March 31, 2011 in Wuesthoff Hospice Care Center, Rockledge, FL. Born February 21, 1946 in Bellefonte, PA, he was the son of the late Henry W. and Margaret Delaney Zerby. Mr. Zerby was the loving husband of the late Mary Agnes Root Zerby whom preceded him in death on February 8, 2009. He is survived by his siblings David E. Zerby and Clair W. Zerby both from PA. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his brother Neven Zerby. Mr. Zerby enlisted in the United States Navy in 1964 and served his country for 20 years before his retirement in 1984. During his enlistment he received the Vietnam service medal with five stars, meritorious unit commendation with one star, navy expeditionary medal, national defense service medal, and the armed forces expeditionary medal. He also attended Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, CA and received his Associates Degree in 1974. Mr. Zerby was employed for seven years by the National Technologies Associates until retiring for health reasons. He belonged to the Fleet Reserve, VFW, the Hollywood Patuxent Moose Lodge 2393, and the American Legion post 274 in Lusby, MD. The family will receive friends on Friday, April 8, 2011 from 5 – 8 p.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner
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Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD where prayers will be recited at 7 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 10 a.m. in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD with Pastor Daniel Moore officiating. Interment will follow in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, MD. Pallbearers will be Bobby Hall, John Jordan, Tim O’Conner, Joe Zerby, John Cantwell and Ernest Bernich. Contributions in memory of Mr. Zerby may be made to the Hospice of St. Mary’s. P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD, 20650 and/ or Mooseheart Child City & School Inc. c/o Patuxent Moose Lodge 2393, 23886 Mervell Dean Road, Hollywood, MD 20636. To send a condolence to the family please visit our website at www.mgf h. com. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.
Anthony Piccini, 79 Anthony Piccini, 79, of California, MD, formerly of Long Island, NY died March 26, 2011 in St. Mary’s Hospital, Leonardtown, MD. Born October 13 1931 in Brooklyn, NY, he was the son of late Pasquel and Emily Cintron Piccini. He was the former husband of the late Jenny Piccini who preceded him in death on April 26, 2002. Mr. Piccini is survived by his children; Sonia Piccini and Jesus Piccini both of CT, Ada Roldan of California, MD, Anthony Piccini (Cynthia) of Queens, NY, and William Piccini of Brentwood, NY, his grandchildren; Anthony Piccini, Liza Piccini, Edward Roldan, Neicie Roldan, Christian Piccini and great grandchild, Anthony Piccini. He is also survived by one sibling, William Piccini. Mr. Piccini attended school in Brooklyn, NY, before being drafted in to the United States Army in 1951, serving 2 years during the Korean War, before his separation in 1953. He was a Postal Worker for the United States Postal Service in Jamaica, NY for 20 years before his retirement in 1992. Mr. Piccini moved to St. Mary’s County in 2006. He belonged to the American Legion. The family received friends on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 in Crossroads Christian Church, St. Leonard, MD where a Funeral Service followed with Pastor Shawn Holcomb officiating. Interment followed in Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, MD. Pallbearers were Anthony Piccini, Edward Roldan, Santiago Saureg, Mikey Busanet, Pedro Echeandia and Allen Craft.
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Thursday, April 7, 2011
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Education
BOE Analysis Points Out Extra $10 Million in Available Funds By Sarah Miller Staff Writer A third party analysis of the St. Mary’s County budget presented at the Board of Education meeting March 30 showed the county has between $10 and $13 million of surplus funds that have not been allocated to any agency. Greg Nourse, the director of fiscal services with St. Mary’s County Public Schools, said nothing in the presentation by R.J. Pellicoro, of R.J. Pellicoro and Associates, came as a surprise. “The question is can the Board of County Commissioners take it into their hearts and give us just a little more money,” Nourse told The County Times. Pellicoro said the county commissioners could look like they’re spending the full
amount of their budget by overestimating their expenditures and underestimating their revenues. Nourse said this a common practice and “how they keep themselves above water.” Wanda Twigg, the president of the teachers’ union EASMC, said they have been getting a third party analysis done for the past 20 to 25 years, and Pellicoro has been the one they go to most of the time. Twigg said it’s important to know exactly how much money is available so they aren’t “negotiating in the dark.” If the money wasn’t really there, Twigg said they would negotiate differently. “There’s no reason for us to back down right away,” Twigg said. Elaine Kramer, the chief financial officer, confirmed there is about $12 million of undesignated dollars in the county’s fund balance,
which is the net of the revenue for the county and expense variances. She said the expense variances are “to some extent by design.” “Do we have a fund balance? Yes,” Kramer said. Kramer said the county doesn’t try to use the fund balance for recurring expenses and instead into one-time things like the building projects. She also said they keep some money aside because the state budget isn’t set yet and the county wants to be ready in case of a cut in state funding. Kramer said it’s common for groups funded by the county to get less than the amount they request from the county. “A lot of people want the fund balance to fill the gap, but that’s kind of how we got to this point,” Kramer said.
34 Positions Being Eliminated, More May Follow By Sarah Miller Staff Writer In the face of a $14.2 million dollar shortfall in funding for St. Mary’s County Public Schools, 34 positions will be eliminated, the schools’ superintendent said. The positions eliminated will be positions that have been open for a time, due to retirements or through the redeployment of an em-
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ployee from a central office position to a position in a school. The move to de-centralize the central office will save the district approximately $2.16 million, said Michael Martirano, superintendent of schools, during the school board meeting March 30. Martirano said the elimination of scattered positions would prevent large chunks of the schools’ structure from being cut. “Think of it as a pie. The pie will be smaller, but the pie will be whole,” Martirano said during his budget presentation to the Board of Education. All positions will remain frozen through 2012 and 2013. Martirano said open positions will either be filled by somebody in the district, eliminated or merged with a preexisting positions. Martirano said there will be many people who are currently working at the central office on Moakley Street redeployed to positions in the schools to provide support to the classrooms and teachers.
There were 13 budget categories that received cuts in the elimination of 34 positions – administration, mid-level administration, instructional salaries, instructional textbooks and supplies, other instructional costs, special education, student personnel services, health services, transportation, operations, maintenance, fixed charges and capital outlay. Martirano said maintaining positions and employees is the main goal for the district, but there may be more cuts, including firing people, on the horizon if more funds don’t become available.
Summer Week to be Shortened By Sarah Miller Staff Writer
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St. Mary’s County Public Schools will be operating on a four-day workweek during the summer. Greg Nourse, the director of fiscal services with St. Mary’s County Public Schools, said shutting down the district three days per week during the summer instead of just on the weekends will save the district $40,000 over the course of the summer, which is roughly equivalent to a yearly teacher’s salary. The hours worked for the employees won’t be decreased either. Their workdays will go from eight hours to around 10 hours, Monday through Thursday. During a presentation at the Board of Education meeting March 30, Superintendent Michael Martirano said the facilities will only be used on off days if the groups using the schools, like churches or Summer Stock Theatre, assume all the costs for utilities and employee overtime. He said there will also be no more exceptions for bus routes, and students will have to
go to their assigned stop at the assigned time to cut down on the distance busses travel in a day. The programs offered through the school, including the summer fine arts camp and the sports programs they do in conjunction with parks and recreation, will be cut down to four days per week, leaving parents having to figure out what to do with their students on Fridays, Martirano said. The summer school programs will also be changed, through the details of the nature of the changes haven’t been worked out yet. The only week that will look different is July 2 through July 8. The central administration and all other building will be closed Monday, July 4 and open Friday, July 8. During the board meeting, members referred to the four-day workweek as “changing the culture of the school system.” Nourse said if the changes prove to be beneficial, the four-day summer workweek may well become the new norm and be continued into 2012 and beyond.
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Thursday, April 7, 2011
Know
The County Times
In The
Education
Leonardtown Model UN Gets Involved By Sarah Miller Staff Writer The students in the Model United Nations (MUN) group at Leonardtown High School are proving they can get involved in the world outside the model. The MUN group is a part of the Global Diplomacy class, headed by Michael Denny, a teacher in the social studies department. He said the group is open to anybody wanting to get involved. The MUN consists of different groups of students from schools all over the country, split into regions. The students represent different countries in the United Nations and the interests of that country in a large-scale role-play revolving around current issues. Denny said it is essential that, in a globally-minded society, the school district graduate students who are knowledgeable about the world they live in. Denny said it was the global awareness the students get from the MUN, as well as some of the students’ friendship with foreign exchange student Miyu Saito, that spurred them to start a donation drive for Japan after the earthquake and tsunami. “The heart is large at Leonardtown High School,” Denny said. Caroline Taylor, a senior at Leonardtown, said she had been involved in a similar project after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina so she knew where to start with the Leonardtown High School drive. She, along with senior Mollie Wagoner, got the drive off the ground and the rest of the MUN took up the campaign. Saito is from the city of Sendai, one of the cities hit hard by the earthquake and tsunami. She said she’s spoken to different classes and showed them pictures of her home and she appreciates the efforts because before nobody knew how to ask her about her home. She said when she found out about the earthquake, she wanted to go home but decided to finish out the school year. Denny said the school is currently working on the problem of finding the money and the means to transport the five car loads of clothing they have collected overseas. Global awareness isn’t the only thing the students get from the MUN, Denny said. Lance Pearce III, another senior at Leonardtown, said he got so immersed in his assigned country, which is agriculturallybased, that he began thinking in a completely different mindset. “For four days, I was a farmer in my soul,” Pearce said. The students said they also become more confident public speakers because of MUN, as well as developing the ability to think fast in high-pressure situations. These are the kinds of skills that the students will need throughout their whole lives, Denny said. sarahmiller@countytimes.net
Defense
St. Mary’s County Before and After BRAC The Base Realignment and Closing (BRAC) process has had a huge impact on the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. The effects of all those changes will be the subject of the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum Association (PRNAMA) program “Life in St. Mary’s County Before and After BRAC,” set for Sunday, April 17, 3-5 p.m. at the museum. NAS Patuxent River today employs over 20,000 civilians and military staff, but it didn’t always. A large part of its economic impact today can be traced to the Base Realignment and Closing (BRAC) process, which began in 1989 and has had four more rounds of base closings since. In the process, Pax River has added programs and people from Warminster, Pa.; Lakehurst, N.J.; Trenton, N.J.; Indianapolis, Ind.; and Wright Patterson Air Force Base. In 1997, the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) arrived from Crystal City, Va. Three notable county citizens will be on the panel: • John Hanson Briscoe, former circuit court judge and speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates. A native of St. Mary’s County, Judge Briscoe served in the House of Delegates from 1962 to 1979, the last six as speaker, and then as
circuit court judge from 1986 until his retirement in 2002. He has been chair of the St. Mary’s City Commission and president of the Historic Sotterley Board of Trustees, and is currently president of the St. Mary’s County Historic Society. • Jack Gelrud, who came to St. Mary’s County in 1948 after service in the U.S. Army, where he earned two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. A graduate of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, he opened his first pharmacy in Lexington Park in 1949, and then his second in Leonardtown in 1955. Now retired, Gelrud and his wife Sue work with charitable organizations locally. • Bob Waxman, senior consultant at The MIL Corporation, was one of the original employees at Webster Field in St. Inigoes. A graduate of the University of Maryland and George Washington University, he is recipient of the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award. “St. Mary’s County Before and After BRAC” is part of the PRNAMA series of programs commemorating the 100th year of naval aviation. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. For more information, email the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum Association at association@paxmuseum.com.
SMECO’s Contribution to Light Up Lexington Park
Lexington Park, known as the gateway community to the U.S. Naval Aviation Test and Evaluation Center at Pax River, is preparing to celebrate the Centennial of Naval Aviation. One hundred years ago, the U.S. Navy acquired its first aircraft for the defense of the country. In 1943, the U.S. Navy established NAS Patuxent River to test naval aircraft for the fleet. The community of Lexington Park grew up around the new base and this legacy is being marked this year with street banners and events. Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO), the electric utility for Southern Maryland, is the Inaugural Sponsor of Lexington Park’s Centennial Celebration. “We are proud to kick off this campaign to draw attention to this vital community surrounding the largest employer in Southern Maryland,” Joe Slater, SMECO president and CEO said in a press release. “We manage the efficient delivery of power to Pax River Naval Air Station and to the many businesses, schools, and residents of the Lexington Park community, and we are pleased to support this landmark event.” SMECO will hang the banners from its electric utility poles along Great Mills Road and Rte. 235 in Lexington Park and along Cedar Point Road and Buse Road on the Naval Air Station. The banners will be visible from early summer through the end of the year to the 22,000 employees at the base, the 100,000 visitors expected for the Blue Angels Air Expo during Labor Day weekend and to the members of the St. Mary’s County community. Additional sponsors are needed to fully realize the celebration. Each banner will carry a Sponsor’s logo and dramatic images of a shadowed outline of the USS Lexington, the WWII carrier for which the Park is named, and a soaring fighter jet representing advancements in naval aviation. The banners were designed by local artist, Jeff Hobrath, Chief USN (Ret.), CEO and founder of Jeff Hobrath Art Studio (JeffHobrath.com). “This campaign is designed to bring attention to our “Pride in the Park” initiative,” said Mark Pinekenstein, CEO, Compass Systems and chairman, Lexington Park Business and Community Association. “The residents and businesses of Lexington Park take great pride in their community and its legacy. As a manager of a defense company located in the heart of Lexington Park, I strongly encourage other businesses to pledge their support for this campaign.” “The Centennial of Naval Aviation observance is so much more than activity inside the fence,” Capt. Stephen Schmeiser, commanding officer, NAS Patuxent River, said in a press release. “The many great contributions to Naval Aviation include the community support from Lexington Park and St. Mary’s County. I am proud that these banners will be flying on streets onboard the station as well as the community.” Several corporate sponsorship levels are available. Each sponsor will have multiple 2 by 6 foot banners displaying their company’s name or logo erected either on base or off
to honor the Centennial Celebration. For more information, contact Robin Finnacom, president, Community Development Corporation, 301-863-7700, robin.finnacom@ stmarysmd.com, to request a corporate sponsorship packet. Packets are also being distributed to community businesses this month. This campaign is an initiative of the Lexington Park Business and Community Association. The Association meetings are open to all and are held on the second Wednesday of each month at the Bay District Fire House at 6:30 p.m. “The Association realized that the Lexington Park community has an important heritage and expects that this campaign will increase its positive perception,” said Finnacom.
The County Times
Thursday, April 7, 2011
16
STORY
Teens to Experience Homelessness and Hunger
By Sarah Miller Staff Writer
food and to go to sleep hungry, Bailey said. The 30 Hour Famine is a chance for the teens involved to be “part of something way A bunch of teenagers building a camp of cardboard bigger than they could possibly imagine,” boxes on the square in Leonardtown is not a sight to behold said Stephen Diggs, a youth pastor with Epic often. But that is exactly what teens from the Leonardtown Ministries. Church of Nazarene and Epic Ministries are preparing to do. He said the students who get involved The 30 Hour Famine is for teens to learn about world come out with a better understanding of what hunger and homelessness and to raise funds for World Vi- it’s like to be homeless and hungry. sion, said Vicky Bailey, a youth leader with the Leonardtown “We take life for granted here in the U.S.,” Church of the Nazarene. Diggs said. The teens will have a complete famine from all electronHe said the experience wakes the teens up ics and the Internet, and many of them will also fast from all a little bit and raises their awareness of events food for the 30 hours, Bailey said. going on outside of their worlds and comfort Bailey said the World Vision is a humanitarian organi- zones. zation dedicated to working with children and families and Diggs said he has been working with Epic their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by Ministries since 2004 and he took the position tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. as the youth pastor in 2006. He said the teens The 30 Hour Famine in St. Mary’s County is hosted by with Epic Ministries have been involved in the the Leonardtown Church of the Nazarene and Life Commu- 30 Hour Famine a few times in the past. nity Church of God April 15 through 17. One thing about the 30 Hour Famine is The teens set up their cardboard homes during the 30 Hour Famine in 2010. About 40 teens from Epic Student Ministries will fast there are two local churches, of two different and spend the night in cardboard boxes on the square in denominations, that come together as one body. Leonardtown to experience what life would be like to have “I believe that although there are many the public will be invited to join the teens and the youth minno home or bed to sleep in and how it would feel to have no churches in our county and community, we are one body, as isters in a service of praise, worship and prayer. There will the Bible clearly tells us, and that also be a message of how God loves and cares for the poor, if we can come together outside of as well as the Contemporary Worship Team from Life Comour church walls and work togeth- munity Church of God. The service will be held in the Leoner we can do amazing things in ardtown Church of the Nazarene Sanctuary. our community, grow each one of One teen who got involved in the 30 Hour Famine is Raour churches, and reach a genera- chel Copen. She said she got involved because she thought it tion of young people like we never would be a “great opportunity” to see what conditions in a have before,” Bailey said. third world country were like. She said the experience helped The students from the church- her to open her mind to the situations of less fortunate people. es also see the coming together of Bailey said at the 2010 event, over 100 individuals atthe churches as a goof thing. tended the service and “all were moved by spirit and filled “It’s a lot of fun and definitely with the desire to help those in need, and to get more ingood for our youth group,” said volved in community service helping others in our own Janelle Baden, one of the teens community.” with Epic Ministries who got inIndividuals are also welcome to make make a tax deducvolved in the 30 Hour Famine last table donation to World Vision on Friday evenings. year. The teens will host a car wash as a way to raise funds They went around handing for the cause on Saturday morning in the alley next to the out pamphlets to get information Nazarene Church on the square, Bailey said. They will get out in the community, as well as involved in community service activities at other locations setting up a soup line for homeless around the county Saturday afternoon. people and cleaning a church. Copen said the experience spurred some of the individuShe said the teens were given als she was with to get involved in missions trips and other Plumpy’nut, a peanut butter like ministries to help people who live with hunger and homelesssubstance used for famine relief, ness on a daily basis. Copen said she hasn’t gotten involved rice and water. The teens were on some of the bigger trips, but she has been finding ways to fed those items so they could un- give to the community in St. Mary’s County by working with derstand that in some parts of the soup kitchens and school food and clothing drives. world, that would be all the food “Some people are hungry for days and days,” Copen that was available to them for ex- said. tended periods of time. Bailey said on Saturday evening the teens will break Bailey said the Plumpy’nut, as their fast with a meal served in the church fellowship hall. well as small portions of rice and “There are so many lessons learned throughout this beans were available for teens who event,” Bailey said. “Games that we will play all have a lescan’t go a whole 30 hours without son and a time of reflection, the videos show us the real life food. Several of the teens chose to of those that have suffered and how World Vision has helped forgo even the small portions to them and given them hope and a plan for a future.” experience going to sleep hungry. Copen said the 30 Hour Famine did more for the teens This year, instead of the rice and than raise their awareness of people who are less fortunate beans, there will be a cornmeal than them and motivate them to help. The experience drew mash available, Bailey said. the teens together as friends and family. Baden said the experience “By the end of the experience, you’re just a big force was a “real wakeup call” and together,” Copen said. helped her to understand what Bailey said there is still a need for large cardboard boxsome people go through on a daily es. People with boxes to donate can call Bailey, or her husbasis. band Mike Bailey, at 301-373-9731 to tell them where they The teens will begin fasting at can come pick them up. noon April 15. The will meet at the For more information on about the 30 Hour Famine, visit church at 6 pm and begin building www. 30hourfamine.org. For more information about Epic their box city on the Square where Ministries and Life Church of God, visit www.lccog.com and they will all spend the night. for information about the Leonardtown Church of the NazaBailey said visitors can, rene, visit www.leonardtownchurchofthenazarene.org. “come out and see the excitement Photo by Frank Marquart and creativeness of the teens and sarahmiller@countytimes.net Stephen Diggs, Sean Bailey, Rachel Copen and Janelle Baden, top, stand with Madisyn Diggs and Justin leaders involved.” Bowen, bottom, as they prepare for the 30 Hour Famine. On Friday evening at 9 p.m.,
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The County Times
Thursday, April 7, 2011
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Newsmakers
The County Times
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Great Mills High Alumna Going For Miss USA By Sarah Miller Staff Writer The Miss USA pageant is coming up in June, and an alumna from Great Mills High School will be in the competition as Miss District of Columbia. Heather Swann has had the dream of being involved in pageants since she was a child watching Miss America and Miss USA on television. When she was 20, she decided to make her dream a reality and sign up for the state competitions. Swann said she is shy by nature, and getting involved in the Miss USA circuit helped her break out of her shell and become more comfortable being seen by people and speaking in front of them. She said the experience if competing and being involved in the beauty pageants has been “amazing.”
“I never thought it would be something I would do,” Swann said. When she got a little bit older, she realized there was nothing stopping her and just said “why not.” Around the same time, a f lier for the pageant got delivered to her house and she got involved in the Maryland system of the Miss USA pageant. While in the Maryland circuit, Swann competed twice. When she moved to Washington, D.C., Swann got involved in the District of Columbia system. She competed in the Miss America version of the Miss District of Columbia, then went back to the Miss USA program and, in her fourth pageant, got the title of Miss District of Columbia. Cheryl Swann, Swann’s mother, said the main difference between the Miss USA competition and Miss America is that Miss America requires a talent portion while Miss USA doesn’t. Cheryl said they’re “very proud” of their daughter and what she’s accomplished. “It’s exactly what she wants to do,” Cheryl said. The state pageant included an interview portion, swimsuit and evening gown portions and on-stage questions. Swann said the most challenging part was the on-stage questions, while the easiest part was the evening gown. She said this was because her dress was long, so people couldn’t tell if she stumbled a little. To prepare for the competition, Swann said she did mock interviews, ate healthy and worked out. Swann said having the title of Miss District of Columbia means she makes appearances at community events, participates in volunteer and service projects and does photo opportunities on the weekends or in the evening after work. She said she works her schedule “very strategically” between work and her duties as Miss District of Columbia. Swann holds a bachelor’s degree in Health with a concentration in physical therapy from Howard University. She works at Advanced Pain Management and does marketing for a health clinic. A young woman can hold the title of Miss District of Columbia, or another state. for one year. Once she has won a state competition, she goes on to the Miss USA competition and the winner of Miss USA goes on to the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss USA pageant will be in Las Vegas in June and the Miss Universe pageant will be in August. Once she has won a competition, Swann said a young woman cannot enter a state competition again. Until they win the competition, the women can compete until 26 years old, Swann said. “It was a dream of mine for a long time and all the hard work finally paid off,” Swann said. The Miss USA competition will be June 19 at 9 p.m. and will be broadcast live on NBC.
Miss District of Columbia USA 2011 Heather Swann and Imani Bentham, Miss District of Columbia Teen USA 2011 Imani Bentham
sarahmiller@countytimes.net Photos Courtesy of Miss District of Columbia USA website and Vithaya Photography.
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Community
The County Times
Thursday, April 7, 2011
St. Mary’s Choir and Chamber The Crib Offers Hope to Young Parents Singers Perform Fundraiser Extended
The voices of the St. Mary’s College of Maryland Choir and Chamber Singers will blend with special guest soloists from Washington, D.C., and pianists Brian Ganz and Beverly Babcock to perform the German Requiem by Johannes Brahms at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 17, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Lexington Park. “Brahms,” said conductor Larry Vote, “arranged the work for piano four-hands, and I am delighted that Brian, Beverly, and I will join forces for this beautiful work.” The concert is free and open to the public. Guest soloists include Colleen Daly, who according to The Washington Post is rapidly emerging as a dramatically powerful singer in the operatic arena, as well as concerts and recitals; and Bob McDonald, a regular in D.C. musical theater.
A young parent who finds themselves alone and in crisis will undoubtedly feel overwhelmed by the uncertainty of their future. A local non-profit organization, The Crib, adopts a holistic approach to these problems by supporting parents in crisis with a place where they can find support and encouragement. Beyond providing critical assistance in locating and accessing resources for essentials such as food, shelter and medical care, the staff and volunteers at The Crib work towards providing education and support for both parent and child. The goal of The Crib is that upon completion of the program clients are self-sufficient, capable parents on a life path that inspires them. In February, The Crib launched a fundraising effort called “If I had a dime for every time”. This effort is being extended through April 15th with an online fundraising effort that could be called “The power of ten”. An urgent plea is going out to citizens in Southern Maryland to log onto www.cribhome.org. and donate just $10 to help families with infants start the
path to a better life. To provide even more support for single parent families, donors can encourage 10 friends or family members to do the same. Executive Director, Andrea Templeton, explains that if just 100 people can encourage 10 others to donate they will exceed their fundraising goal of $10,000 All donations are tax-deductable and 100% of the proceeds raised will directly benefit local families in crisis. The Crib is a caring community committed to empowering parents in crisis situations. A parent who has the courage to raise their baby alone has the strength to be a role model for both their child and community. The Crib is intended to have a multigenerational impact; each parent who successfully completes the program will see its effects on their own life and on the life of their child. By taking action now, we can create a cycle of hope and success for future generations. For additional information about The Crib, or to donate, please visit our website at www. cribhome.org or call Andrea Templeton at 323791-2967 or 240-431-8225. Questions may also be e-mailed to andrea@cribhome.org.
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Community
The County Times
Local Tennis Tournament Season Starts April 16 The first local tennis tournament of the year, the Cove Point Spring Fling, is coming up very quickly on April 16 and 17. We would like to encourage you to come out and have some fun competing in the Open or 3.5 level brackets in one or more of the following divisions: Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed doubles. The Spring Fling is the first of 3 tournaments that are a part of the Southern Maryland Tennis Cup series. In addition to the tournament awards available for the winners and runners-up in
Thursday, April 7, 2011
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Miss St. Mary’s County Agriculture
each division, Spring Fling participants earn Series points toward the end-of-year Cup Awards in all divisions they play. The Tennis Cup series has been revamped for 2011 based on feedback from last year. The new rules and point system, as well as other info, can be found on the SMTC website: www. southernmarylandtenniscup.org. To enter the 2011 Spring Fling, please download the registration form from the SMTC site and fill it out as instructed on the form. Deadline for registration is April 13.
SMECO Linemen Prepare for Gaff ’n’ Go Rodeo
Utility linemen perform dangerous work that requires physical strength, agility, and skill, especially under the worst weather conditions. They must perform with consistency and safety; their lives depend on it. SMECO’s linemen will demonstrate those qualities in competition at the ninth annual Gaff ’n’ Go Lineman’s Rodeo, scheduled for April 9. The Gaff ’n’ Go Rodeo is an opportunity for linemen to test their skills against those of their peers. The event also provides an opportunity for members of the community to see what it takes to be a utility lineman—skill, strength, and respect for electricity.
This will be the seventh year that SMECO linemen will compete in the Gaff ’n’ Go Rodeo. Each team consists of two journeyman linemen and a groundman, and they participate in five mandatory events, including the pole climb, hurt-man rescue, and three mystery events. Apprentice linemen also compete. They are judged on the pole climb, hurt-man rescue, a written test, and two mystery events. A person is considered an apprentice for up to four years after he enters the apprenticeship. In 2010, SMECO linemen won a total of 10 awards. The journeyman team of Will Robertson, Jeremy Green, and Brian Rawlings finished the rodeo with a perfect score of 500, along with five other teams that also had perfect scores. This was the first time a SMECO team had finished the rodeo with a perfect score. In addition, as a journeyman team, Robertson, Green, and Rawlings won the Jimmy Gardner Award for the electric cooperative with the best score. This is the second time they have won this award. Robertson and Rawlings will be competing again this year with Josh Reithmeyer as the third member of their journeyman team. Some SMECO crew members have completed the hurt-man rescue in a little over one minute. That means that from the ground, they put on their equipment, climb the pole, tie off and lower the victim to the bottom of the pole, and return safely to the ground in a little over 60 seconds. SMECO has a video of a hurt-man rescue demonstration on its YouTube page; visit www.youtube.com/user/ somdelectric. The events are judged by utility supervisors and previous rodeo contestants following very strict criteria based on correct work procedures and safety practices. The top three teams and top three apprentices will receive paid entry to the International Lineman’s Rodeo in Kansas City, Missouri, being held October 12-15, 2011. The Ninth Annual Gaff ’n’ Go Rodeo, April 9, 2011, is at the Meadow Event Park in Doswell, Virginia. The park is located off I-95, exit 98, one mile east of Kings Dominion. For more information on attending the Gaff ’n’ Go Rodeo, please visit www.gaff-ngo.com or call 804-968-4073.
Ryken Junior Heading to Journalism Conference
Taylor King, a junior at St. Mary’s Ryken High School from Lusby, has been selected to represent Maryland as a National Youth Correspondent to the 2011 Washington Journalism and Media Conference at George Mason University. King joins a select group of students from all over the country for an intensive study of journalism and media, a press release states. She was chosen based on academic accomplishments and a demonstrated interest and excellence in journalism and media studies. The Washington Journalism and Me-
dia Conference, held July 10-15, 2011, is designed to develop and encourage future leaders in the changing face of media in the 21st century. St. Mary’s Ryken is a college preparatory high school sponsored by the Xaverian Brothers and works to inspires lives of learning, faith and service in each student. Students come from many different counties across the region including Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, King George, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s counties.
The St. Mary’s County Annual Farm Bureau Banquet was held on March 12, 2011. At the Banquet, Shelby Sasscer was named the 2011 Miss St. Mary’s County Agriculture. Shelby will compete for Miss Maryland Agriculture on August 25th and 26th at the Maryland State Fair. Shelby will represent the St. Mary’s County Farm Bureau through out the year.
“Abraham Lincoln and the Navy” Speaker Series: Craig Symonds Friday, May 6, 2011 | 7:00 p.m. in the Barn Sotterley Plantation is partnering with The Boeing Company in presenting Dr. Craig L. Symonds, Distinguished Professor of American Naval Heritage at the U.S. Naval Academy, as part of the 2011 Speaker Series. Widely published, author or editor of twenty-five books including prize-winning biographies, his lecture “Abraham Lincoln and the Navy” will illuminate the crucial role the president played in managing the naval aspects of America’s greatest conflict. Symonds’ talk will be at 7 p.m. in the “Barn” on May 6. Lincoln’s entire presidency was dominated by America’s greatest war, which made his role as commander in chief central to his administration. Though a number of historians have studied Lincoln’s relationship with his generals, no one has previously examined his relationship with the Navy and in particular with the men who led it—the admirals. Because of the generous grant and continued support from The Boeing Company, Sotterley Plantation is able to offer this important community outreach, fulfilling its mission of serving as an educational resource and cultural venue while it seeks to preserve, interpret and research the plantation’s diverse cultures and environments through its history. The event is free and open to the public. Please call for reservations, as seating is limited: 301-373-2280.
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The County Times
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Business
Directory Phone 301-884-5900 1-800 524-2381
Phone 301-934-4680 Fax 301-884-0398
Want Personal Local Service?
Cross & Wood
AssoCiAtes, inC. Serving The Great Southern Maryland Counties since 1994 Employer/Employee
Primary Resource Consultants Group & Individual Health, Dental, Vision, AFLAC, Life, Long Term Care, Short & Long Term Disability, Employer & Employee Benefits Planning
12685 Amberleigh Lane La Plata, MD 20646
28231 Three Notch Rd, #101 Mechanicsville, MD 20659
Mary Clifton Financial Advisor
Retirement Planning • Stocks • Bonds Mutual Funds • IRAs • CDs CALL 301-884-4575 for Consultation
Deadlines for Classifieds are Tuesday at 12 pm.
To Place a Classified Ad, please email your ad to: classifieds@countytimes.net or Call: 301-373-4125 or Fax: 301-373-4128 for a price quote. Office hours are: Monday thru Friday 8am - 4pm. The County Times is published each Thursday.
Classifieds Real Estate A 20 acre lot, with perk, mostly cleared flat land backed with trees- great for a single family with lots of privacy and plenty of room for pasture with a stream running along edge of property, or can be subdivided. In a great location in the middle of Hollywood on a private road in a quite neighborhood. If interested call 301-373-8462 or e-mail jlaowens@aol.com. Price: $349,900.
Real Estate Rentals
Law Offices of
Cozy 2 bedroom, 1 bath home nestled in wooded area. Living Room with gas fireplace and beautiful bright sunroom. Hardwood floors. Large open kitchen with ceramic tile. Shed with power and light. Walk to lake, fishing, beaches close by. On a cul de sac. 1200.00/mo. 410-610-7072.
Since 1987
Apartment Rentals
Member SIPC
28103 Three Notch Road • Mechanicsville
P.A. Hotchkiss & Associates WHERE YOUR LEGAL MATTER-MATTERS
Auto Accidents – Criminal – Domestic Wills – Power of Attorney DWI/Traffic – Workers’ Compensation
Heating & Air Conditioning “THE HEAT PUMP PEOPLE” 30457 Potomac Way Charlotte Hall, MD 20622 Phone: 301-884-5011
301-870-7111 1-800-279-7545 www.pahotchkiss.com
Serving the Southern Maryland Area
Accepting All Major Credit Cards
Est. 1982
snheatingac.com
Lic #12999
Small unfurnished one bedroom apt, $900.00 per month, Utilities included. Washer & Dryer on premises. Garage Parking, No Section 8, No Pets, Non Smoker. Minutes from PAX River. Lease and security deposit required. Applicants subject to background check. If interested, call Dana @ 301737-1257 or email dwcullison@smcm.edu
Employment Bldg Service Worker Must have exp in commercial cleaning. Drug free environment. Must have valid Driver’s Lic. & clean criminal background. Send resume to rtlawnmaint@ aol.com or fax to 301-863-3366 Sparkling Touch Janitorial Service.
301-866-0777
Pub & Grill
Ground Maintenance Tech. Experience in ground maintenance a plus. Valid DL Required. Background check and drug testing required. RT’s Lawn Maintenance. 301-863-5199.
23415 Three Notch Road California Maryland
Yard and Estate Sales
www.dbmcmillans.com
HUGHESVILLE Indoor Estate Sale 4/02 & 4/03 8am-3pm 6915 Olive Damsel • Ct Lake Jameson
358 Days Till St. Patrick’s Day Entertainment All Day
Hello, my name is Misty. I was thrown out of a car and left by the side of the road. Thankfully a kind person heard me scream and rescued me and called Feral Cat Rescue. I am now with Diane at my foster home. At first I was shy and scared; but she found out quickly that I am extremely sweet and loving. She made me trust people again; gave me lots of love and petting. I finally became friends with all the other cats that she is fostering. I am very affectionate and spend time on the couch with my foster mom sitting on her lap. Then I follow her to bed and sleep with her! I am looking for a permanent home with lots of love. If you would like to adopt me, please fill out an application at www.feralcatrescuemd.org and email it to moonandhunt@hotmail.com. or call Diane at 301-481-0171. P.S. I am less than a year old! Feral Cat Rescue is always looking for volunteers and foster homes as well as suitable outside accommodations for kitties who need to be outside all the time and fed. All of FCR cats are vetted and have all shots and are neutered. Please help them help us!
Services
301-737-0777
Prime Rib • Seafood • Sunday Brunch Banquet & Meeting Facilities 23418 Three Notch Road • California, MD 20619 www.lennys.net
Ca ll 30 ! d A 1-373 r -4125 to Place You Advertising That Works!
Home Cleaning Service Cleaning done right, Call Mr. Davis 301-247-3569
Important The County Times will not be held responsible for any ads omitted for any reason. The County Times reserves the right to edit or reject any classified ad not meeting the standards of The County Times. It is your responsiblity to check the ad on its first publication and call us if a mistake is found. We will correct your ad only if notified after the first day of the first publication ran.
The County Times
Thursday, April 7 • Our Lady Star of the Sea School Open House Our Lady Star of the Sea School (90 Alexander Lane, Solomons) – 6 p.m. Teachers and staff at Our Lady Star of the Sea will be on hand to answer questions as parents see who they are and what wonderful things children gain from the Christian Education they receive. Their kindergarten through eighth grade students learn more than academics, they learn faith, compassion and dedication. Our Lady students follow a uniform code, which surely helps in the morning. They do have special Tag Days and creativity is not discouraged at certain times. Uniforms also allow the student to concentrate on learning and to develop a real sense of who they are academically. The school’s curriculum includes art, music, band, advanced band, physical education, robotics, computers and Spanish. For more information, visit www.olsss.org. • Staying Connected with your Teen Potomac Building Room 14, Governmental Center (23115 Leonard Hall Drive, Leonardtown) – 6:30 p.m. The Program will run on Thursday evenings until May 5. Upon successful completion participants are awarded a certificate. There is no charge to attend and all materials are provided. Light refreshments are also provided. Pre-registration is encouraged. Contact Walter Biscoe at 301-475-4200 ext 1847 or email at walter.biscoe@co.saint-marys. md.us
Friday, April 8 • Yard Sale Northern Senior Activity Center (29655 Charlotte Hall Road, Charlotte Hall) – 1 p.m. The Northern Senior Activity Center Council will be holding a Yard Sale open to the public. It will also be open April 9 beginning at 6:30 a.m. Proceeds will benefit the Northern Senior Activity Center. Non-clothing donations are being accepted through 10 a.m. April 8 at the Northern Senior Activity Center. For more information call Pat Myers 301-884-8714. • Lenten Seafood Dinners Immaculate Heart of Mary Church (22375 Three Notch Road, Lexington Park) – 4:30 p.m. Everybody is welcome and carryout meals will be available. The prices range from $7 to $15 and children under the age of 3 eat free. The Lenten Dinners will be offered every Friday until April 15. For more information, call 301-863-8144.
Saturday, April 9 • “Eggstraviganza” Hughesville Volunteer Fire Department (15245 Prince Fredrick Road, Hughesville) – 12 p.m. The Hughesville Fire and EMS is having a spring event for children ages 10 and under. Enjoy a fun filled afternoon featuring egg hunts, pony rides, games, face painting, crafts, fire prevention and a Moon Bounce. Hamburgers and hot dogs
will be served along with juice and chips. The cost is $10 per child. For more information visit www.hvfdems.org or call 301-274-4488. The rain date is April 16. • The Story of David and Bathsheba Huntingtown United Methodist Church (4020 Hunting Creek Road, Huntingtown) – 7 p.m. Paola Balbi and Davide Bardi, from the Raccontamiunastoria Storytelling Company in Rome, Italy, will bring “David and Bathsheba” to the stage at Huntingtown United Methodist Church. Based at the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome, Balbi and Bardi are in North America for a two-month tour that will take them to several states and Canada. Their tour will feature performances in both Italian and English. “David and Bathsheba” is the emotional and passionate retelling of the most shaking, shocking, and controversial story of the Bible: the story of a forbidden passion, a cruel murder, a lost child. But ultimately it is a story of redemption and the never-ending struggle of humankind toward God. “David and Bathsheba” speaks to the hearts and souls of people from all over the world and has inspired great artists of all disciplines across the centuries, from painters to poets, from musicians to singers to Hollywood directors, but nothing makes it as real and as touching and incredibly contemporary as its original storytelling form. General admission tickets are $10. To purchase tickets, or for more information, visit the church website www.huntingtownumchurch.com or call the church at 410-257-3020. • Contra Dance Christ Episcopal Church Parish Hall (37497 Zach Fowler Road, Chaptico) – 7 p.m. The Southern Maryland Traditional Music and Dance Association will sponsor a Special Contra Dance, featuring caller Delaura Padovan. Contra is a traditional American style of social dance. Beginners are more than welcome, and instruction will be provided in a very friendly atmosphere. Admission is $8 for non-SMTMD members, $6 for members (band members are free). There will be an ice cream social following the dance. For more information, please go to www. smtmd.org
Sunday, April 10 • All You Can Eat Breakfast Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad (43256 Rescue Lane, Hollywood) – 7:30 a.m. The Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad Auxiliary is sponsoring an AllYou-Can Eat Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at the Rescue Squad building. The menu will include sausage gravy and biscuits, sausage links, bacon, scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, pancakes, escalloped apples, assorted juices, coffee, tea and hot chocolate. The cost will be adults: $9, children ages 5-12 years are $4 and children under age 5 are free. For more information call 240-298-7956 • Basket Bingo Mechanicsville Moose Lodge (27636 Mechanicsville Road, Mechanicsville) – 1 p.m.
Basket Bingo is sponsored by the Oakville Elementary School PTA and all products to be won are genuine Longaberger. Bingo begins at 2 p.m. Admission is $20 Extra packets are $5 each. No children allowed unless accompanied by a parent and with the purchase of own entrance ticket There will be door prizes, basket raffle, 50/50 raffle, pizza, soda, water and baked goods. For more information or to purchase tickets in advance, call Lori Joy at 301-997-0558 This Basket Bingo is in no way affiliated or endorsed by the Longaberger Company.
Monday, April 11 • Patuxent River Quilter’s Guild Meeting Good Samaritan Lutheran Church (20850 Langley Road, Lexington Park) – 6:30 p.m. Patuxent River Quilter’s Guild will be holding their monthly meeting. New members are welcome. Bring nonperishable food items for the food pantry. This month they will be discussing sewing machines and gadgets - what they like and what they don’t. There will also be discussion of the proposed changes to the guild bylaws and standing rules. For information call Carol Evans at 301-994-0352.
Tuesday, April 12 • Special Olympics Poker Bennett Building (24930 Old Three Notch Road, Hollywood) – 7 p.m. $1-$2 blinds cash game. Dealers will be provided and the high hand is paid nightly. Drinks will be free. Proceeds go to benefit the St. Mary’s Special Olympics and the Center for Life Enrichment. People who would like to help with the Special Olympics should call Mary Lu Bucci at 301-373-3469 or 240-298-0200. For more information about the poker game, call Jim Bucci 301-373-6104 before 7 p.m. and 240-298-9616 after.
Wednesday, April 13 • Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad Auxiliary Meeting Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad (43256 Rescue Lane, Hollywood) – 7 p.m. Anyone wishing to become a member of the Auxiliary is encouraged to attend the monthly meeting. For more information, call 240-298-7956.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
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L ibrary Items Libraries to be closed for staff training Leonardtown Library will be closed on Friday morning, April 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for staff training. The other two branches will be open. Friends’ Book Sale The Friends of the Library book sale raised more than $26,000 making it the best sale to date. Since 1991, the Friends’ have raised more than $175,000 for the libraries. A big thank you goes to everyone involved from the Friends to the many volunteers to the community for supporting it. Ruth Mitchell will dig into St. Mary’s City’s past Ruth Mitchell, Senior Staff Archaeologist at Historic St. Mary’s City, will discuss her work on St. John’s Site Museum and her current project at Anne Arundel Hall in St. Mary’s City at a special program on April 13 at 7 p.m. at Leonardtown. Reception planned for Relationship Tile Project An opening reception for the Walden Sierra Relationship Tile Project will be held on April 13 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Lexington Park Library Art Gallery. The mosaics, created in workshops held at Walden Sierra in spring 2010, depict relationships known to the contributor. The mosaics will be on display through May 15. Teens invited to TAG Teens can meet and hang out with other teens, chat up books, and play Wii at the TAG (Teen Advisory Group) meeting at Lexington Park on April 12 at 5:30 p.m., at Charlotte Hall on April 14 at 5 p.m. and at Leonardtown on April 14 at 6 p.m. Snacks are provided. Children can experiment with water Children 7 years and older will test water as well as use water to launch a rocket, sink a sub, and propel boats in a hands-on science program offered at Charlotte Hall on Apr. 18 at 10 a.m. and at 2 p.m.; at Lexington Park on Apr. 19 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., and at Leonardtown on Apr. 21 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Old clothes should be worn. Registration is required for these free programs. Libraries offer programs during spring break Children ages 4-12 can drop in and complete a spring craft from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Apr. 19 at Leonardtown, on Apr. 20 at Charlotte Hall, and on Apr. 21 at Lexington Park. All ages can drop in and enjoy an afternoon of gaming fun at Lexington Park on April 20 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Adopt A Pet! Hello there !!! My name is Milo. I am a lovable and happy 6 month old terrier mix. I am a little shy but very sweet and soft. I love peanut butter in my red barn bones. I am looking for a family to love and a home to call my own. I am up to date on vaccinations, neutered, crate trained, house trained and identification micro chipped. For more information, please call 240-925-0628 or email lora@secondhoperescue.org.
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The County Times
Thursday, April 7, 2011
ReStore Recycled Art Show Coming Soon All invited to attend the Recycled Art Show on Saturday, April 23 from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Three Notch Theater in Lexington Park. The Art Show will feature an assortment of silent auction art pieces created from items taken form our ReStore. More than 20 local artists are contributing to the event. All proceeds will benefit the Patuxent Habitat for Humanity. The $15 tickets will include light fare and music by DJ Johnny G. Food vendors will also be on available. Tickets are available online at www.patuxenthabitat.org or at the ReStore at 21768 South Coral Drive in Lexington Park, 8900 Chesapeake Ave., North Beach, Md. Call 301-737-6273 for more information. Patuxent Habitat for Humanity (PHH) is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) and works to create decent affordable housing in partnership with those in need in the St. Mary’s and Calvert counties. For more information about donating, volunteering or applying for a home, log on to www.patuxenthabitat.org or call 301- 863-6227.
Patuxent Voices Will Perform Spring Concerts at Historic Churches
Patuxent Voices, Southern Maryland’s premiere women’s a cappella group, has been entertaining local audiences since 2004. The group will perform Singing in the Spring on Saturday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church at the corner of Routes 2 and 4, Sunderland, Maryland; and on Sunday, May 8, 3:00 p.m. at Trinity Church, St. Mary’s City. No tickets are required; a donation will be taken at the door. Patuxent Voices, founded by Cynthia Gonzalez, evolved around women who loved to sing a cappella music. The twelve group members come from Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties, and sing under the direction of Linda Moritz-Aughe. Annually the group performs a holiday concert and a spring concert, as well as appearing at local festivals and events. These talented singers offer an eclectic mix of song - from ancient music to current hits, from sacred to silly - always sung a cappella. “A cappella” is Italian for “in the manner of the church” and refers to vocal singing without instrumentation, according to wikipedia.com. Although originally applied only to religious music, today it includes any style of singing that is unaccompanied. Patuxent Voices covers a range of periods and styles in this concert, including Gabi, Gabi, a South African Praise Song; Fair is the Heaven with text by Edmund Spenser written in the 1500s; Maidens Fair of Mantua’s City, an Italian madrigal from 17th century; Wondrous Love, a traditional shape-note hymn from the Appalachian mountains; Lullabye by Billy Joel, and pop favorites like Natural Woman by Carole King and the pulsing Turn the Beat Around popularized by Gloria Estefan. The performances will take place in two remarkable historic churches. All Saints Episcopal was one of the
original 10-mile churches established between Annapolis and Solomons in the late 1600s. The current building was completed in 1777 and is thought to have near perfect acoustics. The first Trinity Church was built in 1642 by colonists who arrived on the Ark and the Dove; the current church was completed in 1831 using salvageable bricks from the old State House Church. Hearing beautiful music in historic settings is the perfect way to sing in the spring. Find us on Facebook or check the web site: www. patuxentvoices.org
CHURCH SERVICES DIRECTORY Running the 2nd & 4th Week of Each Month
UNITED CATHOLIC METHODIST
To Advertise in the Church Services Directory, Call The County Times at 301-373-4125
ANGLICAN THE ANGLICAN MISSION OF SOUTHERN MARYLAND Sundays - 9:30 AM 41695 Fenwick Street Unit 3 Leonardtown, MD 20650 301/997-1235 www.amosm.net
BAHA’I FAITH BAHA’I FAITH God is One, Man is One, and All Religions are One
Discussions 3rd Wed. 7-8 Lex Pk Library, Longfellow Rm 301-884-8764 or www.bahai.org
BAPTIST CHURCH
Offering worship and serving opportunities at… First Friendship campus – Ridge 9:00 am Traditional worshipc
HUGHESVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH A member of the Southern Baptist Convention 8505 Leonardtown Road, Hughesville, MD 20637 301-884-8645 or 301-274-3627 Pastor Keith Corrick Associate Pastor Kevin Cullins
• Sunday Morning Worship • Sunday School (all ages) • Sunday Evening Worship & Bible Study • Wednesday Discipleship Classes (Adults, youth & Children)
10:30am 9:15 am 6:00 pm 7:00 pm
CATHOLIC CHURCH St. Cecelia Church 47950 Mattapany Rd, PO Box 429 St. Mary’s City, MD 20686 301-862-4600 Virgil Mass: Sunday: Weekday (M-F): Confessions:
4:30 pm Saturday 8:00 am 7:30 am 3-4 pm Saturday
St George Island campus – Piney Point 9:45 am Children and Adult Sunday School 11:00 am Traditional worship St. Paul’s campus – Leonardtown 8:05 am Traditional worshipna 9:15 am Contemporary worshipnca(ASL Interpreted) 10:45 am Contemporary worshipnca 6:00 pm The Refinery (interactive worship)nc n – nursery provided c- children’s Sunday school also available a- adult Sunday school also available
www.firstsaints.org 301.475.7200
GRACE CHAPEL Grace Chapel (Meeting at Mechanicsville Elementary School) Pastor Carl Snyder Worship Service: 10:00 am Phone: 301-884-3504 • Website: www.gracechapelsomd.com John 8:32 Member of fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches
The County Times
Thursday, April 7
California) – 5 p.m.
Apehangers Bar and Grill (9100 Crain Highway, Bel Alton) – 9 p.m.
• Dave Norris DB McMillan’s (23415 Three Notch Road, California) – 5 p.m.
• Live Waterside Entertainment with Dylan Galvin Holiday Inn Solomons Aftdeck (155 Holiday Drive, Solomons) – 6 p.m.
• All You Can Eat Mussels Rustic River Bar and Grill (40874 Merchant’s Lane, Leonardtown) – 5 p.m.
• Randy Richie on Piano Café Des Artistes (41655 Fenwick Street, Leonardtown) – 6:30 p.m.
• Billy Breslin Cheeseburger in Paradise (23415 Three Notch Road, California) – 7 p.m.
• Billy Breslin Leonardtown Grill (25470 Point Lookout Road, Leonardtown) – 7 p.m.
• Martini Karaoke with DJ Steve Martini’s Lounge (10553 Theodore Green Boulevard, White Plains) – 7 p.m.
• All You Can Drink Night with DJ Chris Big Dogs Paradise (28765 Three Notch Road, Mechanicsville) – 8 p.m.
• Fair Warning DB McMillan’s (23415 Three Notch Road, California) – 6 p.m.
• Open Mic Cadillac Jack’s (21367 Great Mills Road, Lexington Park) – 8 p.m.
• Wolf’s Hot Rods and Old Gas Blues Jam Fat Boys’ Country Store (41566 Medley’s Neck Road, Leonardtown) – 8 p.m.
• Randy Richie on Piano Café Des Artistes (41655 Fenwick Street, Leonardtown) – 6:30 p.m.
• Matt Garrett Ruddy Duck Brewery (13200 Dowell Road, Dowell) – 8 p.m.
• Live Music with Chyp and Andrea Rustic River Bar and Grill (40874 Merchant’s Lane, Leonardtown) – 8:30 p.m.
• Billy Breslin Back Creek Bistro (14415 Dowell Road, Solomons) – 6:30 p.m.
• All You Can Drink Ladies Night with DJ Chris Big Dogs Paradise (28765 Three Notch Road, Mechanicsville) – 8 p.m.
• Modern Day Aints, Kitten on Capitol Hill, Idol Minds and Poor Eve Memories Nightclub and Bar (2360 Old Washington Road, Waldorf) – 9 p.m.
• Ballroom and Swing Dance Party House of Dance (24620 Three Notch Road, Hollywood) – 7 p.m.
• Karaoke Dance Party Bowie Applebee’s (4100 NW Crain Highway, Bowie) – 9 p.m.
• Three Sixty Vera’s White Sands Beach Club (1200 White Sands Drive, Lusby) – 9 p.m.
• Dave Norris DB McMillan’s (23415 Three Notch Road,
• DJ Mike
Limi te
We post nightlife events happening in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties. To submit an event for our calendar, e-mail sarahmiller@countytimes.net. Deadline for submissions is Monday by 5 p.m.
150
ime Only!
$
dT
Special n -I e Mov Discounted Cable Playground Free on Site Storage with Every Apartment Walk to Shopping/ Restaurants
301-862-5307
Amenity Package Available
Owned and Operated by
Call For More Information: Bella Bailey, Marketing & Leasing MGR.
301-737-0737
23314 Surrey Way • California, Maryland 20619 Fax: 301-737-0853 • leasing@apartmentsofwildewood.com
• Karaoke on Demand with DJ Steadyrockin Cadillac Jack’s (21367 Great Mills Road, Lexington Park) – 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 9
• Live Music with Groove Span Ruddy Duck Brewery (13200 Dowell Road, Dowell) – 8 p.m. • Karaoke Contest Dance Party Abner’s Crab House (3725 Harbor Road, Chesapeake Beach) – 8 p.m. • The Not So Modern Jazz Quartet The Westlawn Inn (9200 Chesapeake Avenue, North Beach) – 8 p.m. • Rock Bottom Martini’s Lounge (10553 Theodore Green Boulevard, White Plains) – 9 p.m. • Full Steam with the Sam Grow Band Hotel Charles (15110 Burnt Store Road, Hughesville) – 9 p.m. • Anthony Ryan Country Band Hole in the Wall Tavern (24702 Sotterley Road, Hollywood) – 9 p.m. • Karaoke with DJ Tommy and DJ T California Applebee’s (45480 Miramar Way, California) – 9 p.m. • Vinyl Rhino Vera’s White Sands Beach Club (1200 White Sands Drive, Lusby) – 9 p.m. • Dee Jay Christian The Blue Dog Saloon (7940 Port Tobacco Road, Port Tobacco) – 9 p.m. • Frankie and the Actions Apehangers Bar and Grill (9100 Crain Highway, Bel Alton) – 9 p.m. • Sum-Bich with Too many Mikes Memories Nightclub and Bar (2360 Old Washington Road, Waldorf) – 9 p.m.
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• Karaoke on Demand with DJ Steadyrockin Cadillac Jack’s (21367 Great Mills Road, Lexington Park) – 9:30 p.m. • Live Band “NGJB” All You Can Drink Night Big Dogs Paradise (28765 Three Notch Road, Mechanicsville) – 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 10 • Fraternal Order of Police Poker Tournament Fraternal Order of Police (21215 Chancellors Run Road, Great Mills) – 2 p.m.
Monday, April 11 • Mason Sebastian DB McMillan’s (23415 Three Notch Road, California) – 5 p.m. • Family Night Rustic River Bar and Grill (40874 Merchant’s Lane, Leonardtown) – 5 p.m. • Trivia, Pizza and Pint Ruddy Duck Brewery (13200 Dowell Road, Dowell) – 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 12 • Fair Warning DB McMillan’s (23415 Three Notch Road, California) – 5 p.m. • Team Trivia Night Rustic River Bar and Grill (40874 Merchant’s Lane, Leonardtown) – 6:30 p.m. • Open Mic Ruddy Duck Brewery (13200 Dowell Road, Dowell) – 8 p.m. • Open Pool Tables and a List of Specials Big Dogs Paradise (28765 Three Notch Road, Mechanicsville) – 7 p.m.
Wednesday, April 13 • Mason Sebastian DB McMillan’s (23415 Three Notch Road, California) – 5 p.m. • Anthony Ryan Country Band Ruddy Duck Brewery (13200 Dowell Road, Dowell) – 7:30 p.m. • County, Classic and Southern Rock Night with Music Man Randy Britt Big Dogs Paradise (28765 Three Notch Road, Mechanicsville) – 8 p.m. • Comedy Night Martini’s Lounge (10553 Theodore Green Boulevard, White Plains) – 8 p.m. • Wolf’s Hot Rods and Old Gas Open Blues Jam Beach Cove Restaurant (8416 Bayside Road, Chesapeake Beach) – 8 p.m.
n O g Goin
For family and community events, see our calendar in the community section on page 22.
What’s
Friday, April 8
• Road House The Blue Dog Saloon (7940 Port Tobacco Road, Port Tobacco) – 9 p.m.
• Wise Guys Martini’s Lounge (10553 Theodore Green Boulevard, White Plains) – 9 p.m.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
In Entertainment
25
The County Times
Thursday, April 7, 2011
The County Times is always looking for more local talent to feature! To submit art or band information for our entertainment section, e-mail sarahmiller@countytimes.net.
Newtowne Players Going to National Competition By Sarah Miller Staff Writer In January, the Newtowne Players hosted the Maryland Community Theatre Festival and came out with the top spot. Next up for the troupe is the Eastern States Theatre Association Regional Festival, where the Newtowne Players will be representing Maryland. This is the fist time the Newtowne Players have advanced to the regional competition, said Bill Scarafia, the president of the Board of Directors and the director for the play going to the regional competition. The play the theatre will be going to the regional festival with is “woman: revised,” an original one-act play written by local playwright Trish Cole. The Footlight Festival last summer was the first time “woman: revised” hit the stage and has since been performed at the College of Southern Maryland’s Leonardtown Campus, as well as locations in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Seattle, according to Cole. Cole said right now, the play is unpublished, which
Photos by Sarah Miller Lesbian, played by Aime Gilligan; Crone, played by Gloria Ranta; and Woman, played by Valarie Green, argue about the meaning of Woman. Above, Woman and the Forman, played by Andrew Pollard, discuss Woman’s upcoming revision.
means she retains the rights to it, and she can promote it on her own. She can send the script out to wherever she wants, free of charge, and enter it in competitions. She said she may pursue publishing it eventually, but she wants to continue self-promoting it for a little while. “Right now, I’d like to have it get a few more productions under its belt,” Cole said. Cole said the theatre’s choice to use her locally written one-act as opposed to a traditional theatre staple was “bold” and she is pleased that the troupe chose “woman: revised” to represent the theatre. “I’m very grateful to Newtowne Players for supporting original works,” Cole said. “Woman: revised” is a moment in the life of the word “woman” on the day that her meaning will be revised. She finds herself loosing her old sub-definitions, like “wife,” “paramour” and “sweetheart,” and gaining more contemporary meanings like “crone” and “lesbian.” The word “vaginitis” even makes a bid for a spot in the meaning of “woman,” though both “woman” and the foreman rebuff her efforts. In the end, the definition of the word “woman” has changed so much that that she “can barely recognize [herself].” She has lost “wife,” now under her own listing, and is carrying meanings that she never thought she would carry. Much of the current cast have played roles in “woman: revised” in its other productions at the College of Southern Maryland and the Footlight Festival. The cast going to Pennsylvania on April 15-17 consists of Valarie Green, Andrew Pollard, Gloria Ranta, Amie Gilligan and Tina Fratantuono. Scarafia said one of the stipulations of the festival is that the actors who performed at the state festival have to be the same as the ones who go to the regional competition and the national festival, if they make it that far. Because of this rule, the cast “didn’t know what kind of commitment they were making” to the play. It could have stopped at the play last summer, or it could go another couple of performances. Green, who is portraying the titular “woman” in the play, said all the actors at Newtowne Players are volunteers, with careers and commitments to consider before committing to a play that doesn’t have a set time span, but the five who made the commitment are making it work. To celebrate, there will be a send-off on April 14 at 7 p.m. Price of admission is donations only, and there will be a reception with food and refreshments. Scarafia said the performance will be the last dress rehearsal for the cast before the regional festival. sarahmiller@countytimes.net
The County Times
ner
KiddKioer
CLUES ACROSS
1. Wolf groups 6. Liquid propane gas (abbr.) 9. Liz’s 3rd husband Mike 13. Quickly, rapidly 14. Ventured into the unknown 16. 2 floor rental 18. Point midway between S and SE 19. Jells 20. Syringe 21. Greek god of the woods 22. Of I 23. A way of cutting 26. Italian cheese city 29. Detailed design criteria for a piece of work 31. Expressed pleasure 33. Swiss river 35. Harmless cyst 36. Angry 37. Airtight metal food container 38. Cowboy star Autry 40. Jupiter’s closest satellite 42. Greek goddess of youth 43. Grass spikelet bracts 45. Gazes 47. Used to chop
Thursday, April 7, 2011
48. Escape to avoid arrest 49. Imitators 51. Air pollution 53. Engine additive 56. One who comments on events of the day 60. In a way, pardoned 61. Lizard of the family Agamidae 62. ____ ‘n boots 63. A lumberman’s tool 64. Full of conversation
CLUES DOWN
1. Blouse shoulder shapers 2. European swift genus 3. Cod or Good Hope 4. Kilocalorie (abbr.) 5. Teetertotter 6. Kissing tools 7. Bluegrass genus 8. Gonadotropin releasing hormone (abbr.) 9. Poster paint 10. Chocolate cookie with white cream filling 11. The shelter of wild animals 12. Insecticide 14. Mrs. Nixon 15. Plural of etymon 17. 45385 Ohio
26
21. Political action committee 23. Plants of the genus Cassia 24. Personal identifier 25. Indian stairways to water 26. Palladium 27. Staffs 28. United ____ Emirates 29. Sine wave generator (abbr.) 30. Look furtively 32. Copyread 34. Midway between NE and E 39. Passes, as of time 40. One thousandth of an ampere 41. Hairdresser’s shop 42. A skirt’s finished edge 44. Company officers 46. Shaggy or unkempt 49. Slender grass appendages 50. Drunkards 51. Smallest merganser 52. ___ student, learns healing 53. Pierce with a knife 54. Burial vault 55. Address a diety 56. Take a siesta 57. Australian flightless bird 58. Actress Farrow 59. Honorable title (Turkish)
Last Week’s Puzzles Solutions
27
The County Times
Thursday, April 7, 2011
A Journey Through Time
using them for sport. “The Sierra Nevada Mountain Range during the gold rush era was infested with grizzly bears and were captured by the locals for entertainment and income. These What does “Grizzly Adams”, animals were then matched to fight bulls, dogs, other “Gentle Ben”, and “Little House bears, and even humans just for the amusement of gold on the Prairie” have to do with St. seekers. It was a profitable business and grizzly bears Mary’s County? Well, pardners, were caught regularly to meet not only the local demand take off your spurs, rest a spell, at the big arenas in Sonora, Columbia, and Jamestown, and read on. but also for export to other communities.” Walter S. Jarboe was born Walter became the best known promoter of bear 1829 in Washington County, Kenfights and had an amphitheater to stage the events. While tucky and was the son of Stephen involved in this, he joined forces with a man named John Jarboe (born 1776 in St. Mary’s Capen Adams (aka “Grizzly Adams”). Adams owned a County) and Susanna French (her bear he’d named Ben (in honor of Benjamin Franklin). family was also from St. Mary’s “At that time Jarboe claimed ownership of what was County). Walter, like his father, liked to wander. allegedly the largest grizzly bear in local captivity. JarIn 1852, after serving in the War with Mexico, Walter boe’s large bear was probably the one advertised under headed to California looking to make his fortune in the the name of ‘Sampson’ and could very well be the same gold mines but was a little too late. By the time he aranimal of that named owned by John Adams….in a remirived, the mines were about played out. So, ever resourceniscence of early Tuolumne County [California] published ful, Walter got into the business of trapping bears and then a quarter of a century later… an unidentified writer recalled Grizzly Adams of the firm of Jarboe and Adams… as being among the most colorful characters who enlivened the county’s pioneer history.” the Peace for Ukiah where he died March 12, 1865 leaving Walter later moved to Cynthia and two sons, viz., Walter B. and Arthur G. JarUkiah, California and gained boe. He is buried in the Russian River Cemetery in Ukiah. notoriety as the leader of the He lived a short life, but one that was filled with plenty Mendocino Indian War of of adventure. 1859-1860. On August 10, Walter’s Ranch near Sonora is in the Central Sierra 1860 he married Cynthia M. area of California and was chosen as the site for filming Winchester in Sacramento, “Little House on the Prairie.” The ranch, containing 600 California (she was a distant acres, is known today as the Jarboe-Murphy Ranch and as relative to the Winchesters of 2004 had no electrical or phone service. of the Winchester Repeating This article was based on the research of Randy DuArms Company). navan, a Jarboe descendant who lives in Texas. Thank you weeks. I could tell she was trying to tell By: Shelby Oppermann In 1862 and again in 1863 Randy! me something, gesturing strongly and usWalter was elected Justice of I am going to have to plan ahead for ing her eyes to let me know it was imporApril Fool’s Day next year. I didn’t do all tant. And I was anxious to hear her words the tricks I wanted to this year. Really I of profound wisdom for me. When she had didn’t do anything fun. When my husband improved slightly, the Respiratory Therawoke up, I said the standard weather re- pist was summoned to remove the ventilalated gag, “Wow, we really did get a lot of tor for a short respite. I leaned in close, besnow!” It made him look to check that out. cause I was told her voice would be raspy I wanted to do something fun, I don’t like and soft. They did not know my mother to scare anyone who has had a heart attack very well. She very slowly and pretty in the past. Not a good idea. I will have loudly said these words to me, “YOU… to search for more harmless jokes, though TALK… TOO… MUCH.” This from the I know given half the chance, and if my same woman who took me to a psycholohusband was a morning person, he would gist as a pre-teen because I wouldn’t talk to come up with some really good pranks. It’s anyone. The mother-daughter relationship is a complicated one. best to just let him sleep in. I just couldn’t think of a really good When my sons were little I would place rubber snakes in their beds, and al- April’s Fool joke this year. It was a First ways think up something different each Friday night in Leonardtown, and I kept year. I’d tell them school was cancelled, thinking what could I do? I brought a and then yell “April Fool’s” That didn’t temporary tattoo from home, and had my make them very happy, but I loved it. My friend put it on my arm. Maybe it would Mother loved April Fool’s Day – and she fool someone. It might have fooled a few “got me” every time. I was so naïve. Some- people, but I would tell on myself first betimes I would get her too, but she was al- fore they even got to look at it. And, it was easy to spot as a fake soon after it was put ways first. Two long-time customers from up on because it started to peel around the the road came in on Friday, a mother and edges pretty quickly. Oh well. There are tons of websites devoted daughter, who lovingly fuss the entire time they are in the shop. They had both been to April Fool’s jokes and pranks, one was trying to get something over on the other www.aprilfoolzone.com among others. for April Fool’s Day, and all the things they I am going to research this and be ready had tried were so funny. When both of her for next year. But it will be just my luck daughters are with her then the real fun be- that my husband, kids, and you the readgins. They can keep me laughing for quite ers, will get me first. I scare easy, so please a few hours. I love it, it makes me think be gentle. I think the biggest April Fool’s back fondly on times with my mother… joke right now is that Spring is here – or at least this is true on the day I am writing. well fairly fondly. Mothers and daughters can fuss for I think the snow is coming down pretty Over 250,000 Southern Marylanders can’t be wrong! fun, and then at other times it can be se- heavy right now – April Fool’s! rious fussing, with tears and slamming To each new day’s adventure, Shelby doors… and that continued until I was in Please send comments or ideas to: my late 30’s. My Mother was still fussing at me until her last breath. At one hospi- shelbys.wanderings@yahoo.com tal in D.C. she was put on a ventilator for
The
Chronicle
Wanderings of an Aimless
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No Fooling
The County Times
Each year the State of Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation provides a credit for the real property tax bill for homeowners who qualify on the basis of gross household income. Previous applicants must submit a new application each year. To have your application considered for a tax credit, the dwelling for which application is being made must be your principal residence, where you reside or expect to reside for more than six months of the tax year; you must have a legal interest in the property; and your net worth, excluding the value of the property for which application is being made, must not exceed $200,000 as of December 31, 2010. If these requirements are met, the amount of tax credit due, if any, will be calculated on the basis of the gross household income for the calendar year 2010. Income information must be reported for the resident homeowner(s), spouse or co-owner,
EnhanceFitness is a group exercise class for ages 50 and above that improves endurance, strength, balance, flexibility, bone density, and coordination. In a typical class, here’s what you’ll experience:
When signing up for EnhanceFitness, please arrive 1/2 hour early to complete registration materials.
• Ten to 20 people close to your own level of fitness • A certified instructor with special training in exercise for older adults • A 5-minute warm-up to get the blood flowing to your muscles • A 20-minute aerobics workout that gets you moving • A 20-minute strength training workout • A 10-minute stretch to keep flexible your muscles cool-down • A 5-minute • Balance exercises throughout the class
April 8- April 15, 2011 • Yard Sale at Northern The Northern Senior Activity Center Council will be holding a Yard Sale open to the public on Friday, April 8, from 1-4:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 9, beginning at 6:30 a.m. (rain/ shine) at the Northern Senior Activity Center in Charlotte Hall. Proceeds will benefit the Northern Senior Activity Center. Donations (no clothes please), are being accepted up until 10 a.m. on Friday, April 8 at the Northern Senior Activity Center. For more information call Pat Myers 301-884-8714.
Fitness Card: $30 for 10 classes
Cost:
Times include evenings and weekends!
• Cards for Our Troops
Garvey Senior Activity Center, Leonardtown, 301.475.4200, ext. 1050 Loffler Senior Activity Center, SAYSF, 240-725.0290 Northern Senior Activity Center, Charlotte Hall, 301.475.4002, ext. 1001
Good for ONE FREE ADMISSION to an “Enhance Fitness” Class at any Senior Activity Center
Name:
and all other occupants of the dwelling unless these occupants can be claimed as dependents or unless they are paying reasonable fixed charges such as rent or room and board. The deadline for filing a 2011 Homeowner’s Property Tax Credit is September 1, 2011. However, applicants are encouraged to file their applications prior to May 1, to receive a credit directly on their August property tax bill. Eligible applicants, who file their applications after May 1, will receive a tax credit certificate to be used toward payment of the tax bill or for a refund if the bill has already been paid. Applications for this program are available at each senior activity center. Assistance is available with any of the above mentioned tax credit programs by calling Debbie Barker at the Garvey Senior Activity Center at 301475-4200, ext. 1064 or Melissa Meatyard at the Loffler and Northern Senior Activity Centers at 301-475-4002, ext. 1004.
What’s going on?
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Property Tax Credit Available To Eligible Homeowners
Join the fun! Make new friends! Improve your health!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Date:
Expires 4/21/2011
On Tuesday, April 12 at 1:30 p.m. the Garvey Senior Activity Center will be making much needed handcrafted Father’s Day cards for our United States service members serving abroad to send home to their fathers. All supplies will be available; we need your help to stamp and assemble the cards. Sign up to volunteer by calling 301.475.4200, ext. 1050. • Loffler continues to focus on “Getting Green” This coming week the “Getting Green” campaign at Loffler will feature ways to keep clean the green way. This week’s display will have some tips on doing everything from laundry to bathing using toxin-free products that will not harm you or the environment. Bring your pencil so you can jot down your favorite ideas! (Handouts will not be available to save paper but all information is accessible through notes you can take on provided scrap paper or you can request electronic copies of all posted materials by leaving your e-mail address.) Last week’s information on recycling is still available for your perusal. • Staff Prepared Breakfast
Brought to you by the Board of County Commissioners for St. Mary’s County: Francis Jack Russell, President; Lawrence D. Jarboe; Cynthia L. Jones; Todd B. Morgan; Daniel L. Morris and the Department of Aging.
On Tuesday, April 12 at 9:30 a.m. the staff at the Garvey Senior Activity Center will serve
French toast, sausage, fruit, coffee and tea. The cost is $2.00 per person. Make your reservations by calling 301.475.4200, ext. 1050. • Spring Luncheon and Easter Bonnet/ Hat Contest Enjoy a traditional Easter meal of ham, scalloped potatoes, sugar snap peas, fruit salad, carrot cake, milk/coffee/tea at the Garvey Senior Activity Center on Thursday, April 14 at Noon. Prizes will be awarded for the best bonnet/hat in the following categories: Most Creative, Most Elegant/Dapper, and Most Colorful. Following lunch and the Bonnet/Hat Contest, listen to live piano music by Shirley Vatter. The cost for the meal is by donation for those ages 60 and above and $5.00 for those under the age of 60. Sign up by Monday, April 11 by calling 301.475.4200, ext. 1050. • Quilting for Beginners On Wednesday, April 13 at 12:30 p.m., a quilting for beginners group meets at the Northern Senior Activity Center. Volunteer instructor, Gina Alexander offers personal assistance for starting new quilting projects or getting others finished. This class repeats every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. Walk-ins are welcome. • Lyme Disease support group On Thursday, April 14 at 1 p.m., the Lyme disease support group will meet at the Northern Senior Activity Center. The meeting will cover recent activity and developments on this health frontier and will include a special presentation and giveaway. Sign-up by contacting the Center at 301.475.4002, ext. 1001. Loffler Senior Activity Center (SAYSF), 240.725.0290; Garvey Senior Activity Center, 301.475.4200, ext. 1050; Northern Senior Activity Center, 301.475.4002, ext. 1001; Ridge Nutrition Site, 301.475.4200, ext. 1050. Visit the Department of Aging’s website at www.stmarysmd.com/aging for the most up-to date information.
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The County Times
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Special Olympics Athletes Go for the Gold Special Olympics St. Mary’s County athletes, Unified Partners and coaches joined hundreds of others from across Maryland and Delaware to compete at the 2011 Winter Games at Whitetail Ski Resort February 27, 28 and March 1. The delegation from St. Mary’s County included 11 Special Olympics skiers, 11 Unified Ski Partners and 4 alpine coaches plus 9 snowshoe athletes, 4 snowshoe Unified Partners and 4 coaches. Several family members also joined the group to cheer on the athletes and help with equipment and transportation. Thunderstorms delayed the start of the competition but once the weather cleared the racers showed their winning spirit. Laura Marini, Kayla Woolridge and Joshua Fondren skied the intermediate races. Advanced alpine skiers included Wayne Carter, Jimmy Hawkins, Larry Mills, Terrel Nowlin, Samantha Oliver, Joey Owens, Thomas Smith, and Justin Thompson. Each athlete skied in two individual events and one Unified race. Unified Partners for the alpine races were Michael and Courtney Bucci, Amy Brookbank, Lilly Emley, Lucas Garner, Kelsey and Tyler Morlong, Ben Raley, Tom Emery, Marc Rinaldo and Annah Rice. Unified Partners are teammates who do not have intellectual disabilities who train and compete with the Special Olympics athletes. By working together, Unified Sports athletes and partners sharpen their skills, challenge the com-
petition and help to overcome prejudices about in the 100 and 200 meter races. Unified partThe mission of Special Olympics is to intellectual disability. ners Courtney Fowler and Marqui Zimmerman provide year-round sports training and athThe ski coaches included Randy Wool- competed in the 4x100 meter relay with athletes letic competition in a variety of Olympic-type ridge, Bret Bucci, Sr., Ray Bucci, Steve Rinaldo Nahrgang and Debeltz, winning the gold medal. sports for persons with intellectual disabilities. and Tom Emery—who conducted the dryland Michelle Johnson and Stephen Maras ran in the Last year Special Olympics St. Mary’s County training on rollerblades along with Jim and relay with Unified Partners Brian Hartz and celebrated its 40th Anniversary as a non-profit Sandy Hawkins at the Leonard Hall Academy Marissa Parlock for a silver medal. Russell Buc- organization serving the citizens of St. Mary’s Drill Hall in Leonardtown. Billy Morlong and ci, Melody Chase, Tom Bayne and Justin Fowler County. For more information on Special OlymTJ Parkes also assisted with the group. ran a traditional relay, winning a 4th place rib- pics visit the website at StMarysSO.org or send “It’s too far to travel to a ski hill for train- bon on the second day of competition. an email to somdsmc@md.metrocast.net. ing every week, so we get the athletes on rollerblades and roller skates,” County Director Mary Lu Bucci said in a press release. “It helps with their balance and we can simulate ski gates to increase their accuracy on the mountain.” The snowshoe athletes also practice at the drill hall prior to the competition to build endurance and to get used to the snowshoes. Often the first time the snowshoe athletes were on actual snow was at the Winter Games. “We take advantage of the small hills around the drill hall to get the athletes ready for the hills at the Winter Games,” says coach Connie Thompson. “Getting everyone in and out of the snowshoes can be a challenge every week, but we had a lot of great volunteers this year.” Athletes Russell Bucci, Michael Nahrgang, Melody Chase, Tom Bayne and first year snowshoer Jason Swift competed in the 50 and 100 meter races. Michelle Johnson, Austin Debeltz, Some of the 2011 skiers, including, from bottom, front row, Justin Thompson, Lily Emley, Joey Owens, Annah Rice, Justin Fowler, and Stephen Maras competed and Michael Bucci. Middle row, Samantha Oliver, Lucas Garner, Amy Brookbank, Marc Rinaldo, and Larry Mills. And back row, Laura Marini, Terrel Nowlin, Bret Bucci, Thomas Smith, Wayne Carter and Steve Rinaldo.
SMAC Winter Sports Honor Roll Girls’ Basketball
First Team Abreellen Brown, senior for ward, Chopticon
Second Team Kirstin Noris, junior guard, Chopticon Tyniece Woodland, sophomore guard, Great Mills
Laura Shaner, sophomore Lindsay Egbert, senior Lauren Snyder, junior Leonardtown 4 by 800-meter relay Ashley Weston, senior Cara McLaughlin, senior Rachel Labatt, sophomore Erin Kelly, junior
Indoor Track Boys
First Team Peter Offenbacher, 3200-meter run, senior, Great Mills Leonardtown 4 by 800-meter relay team Tim Carey, senior Bobby Young, junior Chris Padgett, senior Brian Oechsel, senior Second Team Julian Grant, 55-meter hurdles, senior, Great Mills Tyler Blake, 800-meter run, se nior, Leonardtown Peter Offenbacher, 1600-meter run, senior, Great Mills
Girls First Team Leonardtown 4 by 200-meter relay Erin Kelly, junior
Second Team Lauren Snyder, 500-meter dash, junior, Leonardtown Cara McLaughlin, 800-meter run, senior, Leonardtown Erin Kelly, long jump, junior, Leonardtown
Swimming
Leonardtown Linsday Egber, senior Laura Shaner, sophomore Erin Kelly, junior Lauren Snyder, junior
400-meter freestyle relay Leonardtown C.J. Culpepper, senior Calvin Sauter, senior Nick Crescini, junior Andrew Maier, senior
Wrestling
Second Team Kevin Norris, 145 pounds, se nior, Great Mills Michael Messick, 160 pounds, junior, Chopticon Robert Newtown, 275 pounds, senior, Chopticon
Second Team Calvin Sauter, 50-meter free style, senior, Leonardtown Nick Crescini, 100-meter back stroke, junior, Leonardtow Andrew Maier, 100-meter but terfly, senior, Leonardtown Austin Fagan, 200-meter free style, junior, Leonardtown C.J. Culpepper, 200-meter indi vidual medley, senior, Leonardtown Matthew Brigham, 500-meter
400-meter freestyle relay
Great Mills Matthew Brigham, senior Alexander Welding, senior Nicholas Mesmer, senior Ivan Paloaroan, senior
First Team Ivan Paloaroan, 100-meter free style, senior, Great Mills Andrew Maier, 200-meter free style, senior, Leonardtown C.J. Culpepper, 500-meter free style, senior, Leonardtown
Leonardtown Nick Crescini, junior Brennan Williams, sophomore C.J. Culpepper, senior Calvin Sauter, senior
Taylor Garrett, sophomore Michelle Robinson, senior Michelle Wood, freshman
freestyle, senior, Great Mills 400-meter freestyle relay
Boys
Leonardtown Mairyn Branaman, freshman Eden Mallory, sophomore Olivia Ray, senior Rachel Aaron, freshman
Girls Most Outstanding Swimmer Olivia Ray, senior, Leonardtown
200-meter freestyle relay
4 by 400-meter relay
First Team Alex Truitt, 119 pounds, junior, Leonardtown Sam Corey, 125 pounds, junior, Leonardtown
Coach of the year Chuck Jacobs, Leonardtown
First team Mairyn Brananman, 50-meter freestyle, freshman, Leonardtown Eden Mallory, 100-meter free style, sophomore, Leonardtown Jaime Branaman, 100-meter breaststroke, junior, Leonardtown Mairyn Branaman, 100-meter butterfly, freshman, Leonardtown Rachel Aaron, 200-meter free style, freshman, Leonardtown Olivia Ray, 200-meter individ ual medley, se nior, Leonardtown Olivia Ray, 500-meter free style, senior, Leonardtown 200-meter freestyle relay Leonardtown Katie Ruthenberg, senior
Second Team Eden Mallory, 50-meter free style, sophomore, Leonardtown Nikita Raley, 100-meter back stroke, junior, Leonardtown Becca Frazier, 100-meter but terfly, sophomore, Chopticon Michelle Wood, 200-meter freestyle, freshman, Leonardtown Rachel Aaron, 500-meter free style, freshma, Leonardtown 200-meter medley relay Leonardtown Olivia Ray, senior Jaime Branaman, junior Mairyn Branaman, freshman Eden Mallory, sophomore 400-meter freestyle relay Chopticon Ginny Phalen, senior Ashley Warren, sophomore Becca Frazier, sophomore Samantha Barbaris, sophomore
The County Times
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Sp rts
SpriNg LAwN & pAtio
Opening Day Kicks Off BMX Racing Season By Leah Lof lin Contributing Writer As the gates collapsed on opening day at the Southern Maryland BMX track in
FurNiture At outlet Discount pricing
Brady Carney - 6 novice class, 4th place (4 years old)
Seasonal OUTLET CENTER McKay’s Plaza, Charlotte Hall
301-884-8682 • 301- 274-0615 Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat: 10 am - 7pm Sunday: 10am - 4pm Closed Tuesdays
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Dwaylon Carter - 26-30 cruiser class, 1st place
Chaptico on Sunday, riders set out with determination in their eyes to win the first place trophy. Families from all over the area brought their kids and dogs to this family oriented park. With a new lighting system and the new random gate at hand, everyone was ready for a great start to a new season. The track is filled with tight turns and inversions, making it difficult yet exhilarating at the same time to riders of all ages, boys and girls both. Riders from around the area and even those from other states came to catch a good Sunday race, such as Brandon Wood who drove in from Delaware. When asked why he made the trip down to St. Mary’s County, he explained, “I came to catch up on my points … I love this track, the turns are real smooth and it’s pretty short. I like how they run it down here, everything is really good.” Paul Visele, president of Southern Maryland BMX, Inc., said Sunday’s turnout was great. “There is a very large race going on in Georgia, and a lot of people went south for that big race. So this is St. Mary’s, Baltimore area and even Delaware,” Visele said. “So it’s a really good, good, turnout.” Nothing would be possible without the volunteers that commit their time to give their children the best experience possible, Visele said. “Lots of volunteers are what we need because they kind of fade away. People get less interested because they want to watch their kids, so we need as many volunteers as we can get,” he said. A person very important to kids and parents who came to Chaptico Park to race is Mike Schwartz of “Mike’s Bikes” in Lexington Park. He brings his school bus full of parts, and is ready to give out a helping hand when needed. He races in the Cruiser class, which is bicycles with 24-inch or greater wheels, and then goes back to announcing for the other classes. Schwartz said the Chaptico track has been getting better and better every year. He laughingly says the only thing he thinks they need now is, “more old guys so I don’t have to race guys 15 years younger than me while getting my butt handed to me.” For all the parents that think it is an easy ride around the track, Mike has a bike and helmet that he offers parents to use to let them see what it is like first hand – and it says it’s not as easy as it may look.
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A View From The
Bleachers The Despicable You By Ronald N. Guy Jr. We met once, briefly. I was a non-descript member of a herd of fans shuffling through your autograph line. Even though our encounter started and ended with your rapid, disinterested pen stroke and without a word spoken, I felt like I knew you … I’ve attended a lot of sports memorabilia shows and have navigated dozens of autograph lines. Over the years I’ve been privileged to meet the likes of Tony Gwynn, Gale Sayers, Dan Marino, Johnny Unitas and Joe DiMaggio – all class acts. There is a common format at autograph fairs: inside a large, open facility a series of tables are aligned with temporary barriers snaking in front of each. This arrangement accomplishes its primary mission well: the orderly and efficient acquisition of autographs. More importantly, it gives fans an opportunity to soak in the enormity of the simultaneous presence of so many sports legends and it lends itself to playful exchanges between the dignitaries and their adoring fans. In short, the communal atmosphere enhances the event. As so it’s been, at every one of the shows I’ve attended, with one exception. When I had the pleasure of brushing by Barry Bonds, I felt like one of Dorothy’s gang standing before “the great and powerful Wizard of Oz.” I was a peasant, a commoner, bothering royalty. First, Bonds sequestered himself in a private room: apparently he was above the other legends in attendance too. Before entering Barryville, fans were instructed that photos with Bonds were prohibited, talking should be limited and everyone should move quickly through the line; in other words, don’t annoy Bonds with trivial conversations. Sounds entertaining, doesn’t it? But that’s Barry Bonds, the ultimate antidote for fun, in a nutshell. Foolish me, I expected something different. I didn’t know then why the bloated Bonds I observed looked so strikingly different than the skinny kid on his rookie cards. That na-
ivety-shattering bombshell came later. By now, most baseball fans have come to terms with and moved on from the steroid era. But before the final shovels of dirt fell on the era’s most significant symbol, Bonds emerged for perhaps his final meaningful public act. Instead of that being his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, as is the case for most of baseball’s greats, Bonds’ final chapter is taking place in a courtroom where he’s standing trial for perjury (he allegedly lied under oath about knowingly using steroids). And while the sting of the steroid era and baseball’s lost generation has faded, the scar from Bonds’ cheating lingers. Bonds was supposed to be my generation’s signature star, our Ruth, DiMaggio, Mays and Mantle. When I celebrated current players as a kid, my elders made it clear that none of them could hit it as far as Mickey Mantle or play centerfield like Willie Mays (even if they could). I was supposed to be able to use Bonds in a similar way with my kids. Instead, as we distance ourselves from his playing career, we’re not recounting his peerless offensive statistics but his cheating, this trial and testimony from his mistress regarding his chronic acne, increasing rage and shrinking…ahem…male anatomy. Based on that PG-13 content, I won’t be discussing Bonds with my kids until they’re teenagers. Great. We all enter this complex world with a perfect innocence; it is what fuels a child’s un-squelched exuberance and an adolescent’s hopefulness. With good parenting, a strong support system and a little luck, we’re able to carry much of it through our youth. Eventually though, and regardless of how charmed a person’s early years are, the harsh reality of life encroaches upon us all. We learn that honesty isn’t universal, everyone isn’t who they seem to be and bad people inhabit the earth. While I was cognizant of the impurities of sports, Barry Bonds shoved its corruption in my naïve face. I’ve been a cynical sports fan ever since. That lesson, and not his playing career, is Bonds’ sad legacy. … In our fleeting moment together you were everything I thought you’d be but hoped you weren’t. Barry Bonds, you were and continue to be, the despicable you. Send comments to rguyjoon@yahoo.com
Sand Volleyball Team Starting
The Young Professionals Initiative (YPI) of St. Mary’s County is starting a Sand Volleyball Team. The team can have a roster of 10 people with one person being the Team Captain. The YPI team would be 4 man coed with 2 guys, 2 girls playing at a time (can’t play with more than 2 guys). The cost will be approximately $300 per team which is $30 per person (per a 10 person team). Courts are behind the old Rendezvous bar, approx a mile south of Leonardtown High School. The season runs from mid-May until mid-late Sept. Games are part of the Recreational
Sp rts
The County Times
Thursday, April 7, 2011
League on Tues/Thurs nights at 6 pm. For more information, the website for the league is www.stmaryssandvball.com. There is an annual Sand League meeting is being held on April 13 at 6:30 at the courts. Our Team Captain should attend that meeting. Also our Full Roster and Team fees are due that night. Craig Gorman will be our Team Captain and Amanda Ellington will be helping out with communication and logistics. Anyone interested in playing can email programs@ypi-smc.org. If more than 10 people are interested then we can have two teams.
The Ordinary
Angler
News From Maryland DNR By Keith McGuire Some of you may recall from a February article that the Maryland Department of Natural Resources held public hearings to decide the size and creel limit, and the dates of the summer flounder season. Diehard flounder anglers attended the meetings and expressed their preferences within and outside the options offered, and the MD DNR representatives continued the process through all of the commissions and regulatory processes to come up with a decision. At the end of March, MD DNR issued a press release for the 2011 summer flounder season that applies to recreational anglers on the Atlantic Coast and in the Chesapeake Bay. According to MD DNR Fisheries Director Tom O’Connell, “Our choice of regulation is a direct result of our biologists working together with our anglers to enact regulations that work toward the coast wide rebuilding schedule, while providing quality fishing opportunities to our fishermen.” SEASON: April 16 through November 30, 2011 MINIMUM SIZE: 18 inches (recreational and commercial hook-and-line) CREEL LIMIT: 3 fish per person per day If you happen to prefer smaller flounder, and if you would like to keep more of them, fish the Potomac River or Virginia portions of the Atlantic Coast and Chesapeake Bay. In those bodies of water the minimum size limit is 17 ½ inches and you can keep four fish per person per day. Point Lookout anglers need to be aware of the differences between the
two regulatory regions because the rules for flounder and a few other species are different for fish caught from the Bay side of the point and the Potomac (Cornfield Harbor) side. MD DNR also recently announced the 2011 Maryland Fishing Challenge featuring Diamond Jim. This is a free, year-round “tournament” sponsored by the Maryland DNR Fisheries Service, recreational fishing organizations, and generous donors across the state. There are several components to the challenge, but the most important part for you as we approach the Trophy Striper Season is the Award Citation piece. Anyone legally fishing in Maryland who catches any one of eighty species of fish that meets or exceeds an official award size can receive a citation award certificate and an invitation to the Grand Celebration that will be held at the 44th Annual Maryland Seafood Festival on September 10, 2011 at Sandy Point State Park. Anglers lucky enough to catch one of these big fish need to take their fish to one of the Official Citation Award Centers (local tackle shops) to have the catch confirmed, recorded and officially reported to MD DNR. The award center will provide the angler with an official Maryland Fishing Challenge entry ticket, which will be followed by an award certificate and an invitation to the Grand Celebration. Further details, including the sizes of fish that qualify and the procedures for catch and release citations can be found at http:// dn r.state.md.us/f isheries/ challenge/index.asp. The minimum size striper for citation is 40”. You may check in as many citation award sized fish as you can catch, but anglers are limited to one Maryland Fishing Challenge entry. riverdancekeith@hotmail.com. Keith has been a recreational angler on the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries for over 50 years; he fishes weekly from his small boat during the season, and spends his free time supporting local conservation organizations.
The County Times
Thursday, April 7, 2011
THURSDAY April 7, 2011
Racers Focus On Victory Page 30
Golf Course Privatization Options Heard Story Page 5
Buying Local For Less Is Easy Story Page 9
Great Mills Teacher Charged with Sex Offense Story Page 10
Photo By Frank Marquart
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