2011-12-15 Calvert Gazette

December 15, 2011

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Catamarans Goes Out of Business

Page 10

Photo By Frank Marquart

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, December 15, 2011

On T he Cover

Also Inside

3 County News 8 Community 9 Education 10 Feature Story 11 Business 12 Crime 13 Letters 14 Obits 16 Games 17 Health 18 Entertainment Out and About 19

2

After a bank purchased Catamarans restaurant and bar on Solomons Island, its last day was Sunday.

The business is now closed and for sale, and the previous owner is working on a new endeavor in St. Mary’s County.

local news

Law Enforcement units filled with kids and volunteers left Prince Frederick’s Outback Steakhouse with lights flashing and sirens wailing as they drove to Wal-Mart for the annual Shop with a Cop.

out & about education

Calverton students Luke Moir, left, Jacob McCourt and Breanna Hill are dining room workers during an program Tuesday at the school. In the foreground is an actual picture of Ellis Island immigrants eating in the dining room.

FOR EVENTS HAPPENING IN YOUR AREA, CHECK PAGE 19 IN OUT AND ABOUT

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The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, December 15, 2011

COUNTY NEWS

Calvert Marine Museum Selling Naming Rights Liquor Board Considering Catering Licenses

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer Soon people may be able to pay to name attractions within the Calvert Marine Museum in honor of friends, family or loved ones.

On Tuesday, representatives from the Calvert Marine museum were in front of the Board of County Commissioners with the plan which will help the museum raise money in support of a

proposed exhibition building renovation.

Also during the meeting, the acquisition of right of way and temporary easements for the improvements of Fairground Road in Prince Fredrick was approved. The right of way property will be purchased from Darlene D. Collins for $3,800. The money for the acquisition will come out of the project budget.

Both items were approved by a 5-0 vote Tuesday.

The liquor board realized Thursday evening that in the last 25 to 30 years a catering license has never been issued in Calvert County.

Currently, class B licenses are issued to restaurants, which allow proprietors to sell beer, wine and liquor. A standing practice is to use the class B licenses when catering events, such as weddings.

Now, due to a case in front of the liquor board, they are considering a change to the code to allow for explicit catering licenses for private citizens.

Casey St. John, a manager at Vera’s White Sands Beach Club, has been trying to get a private catering license for a future personal side business while making sure not to compromise Vera’s liquor license.

St. John said she has gone to the state to ask about catering licenses, but she was told the license she is looking for is handled at the local level. The state only deals with liquor licenses what cross county borders.

The closest thing Calvert County offers currently to the license St. John is seeking is a special event permit, but those are only available for non-profit organizations to use for fundraisers and other events. For profit groups, like St. John’s potential catering company, are not covered under the section 6 one-day permits.

The board is considering legislation for a change to the code allowing for private, for-profit businesses to get a catering license. A draft of the legislation will be reviewed during the January meeting of the liquor board. sarahmiller@coutytimes.net

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COUNTY NEWS

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, December 15, 2011

4

Inspectors Find ‘Vulnerability’ at Nuclear Plant

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer A previously unknown weakness in the construction of Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Lusby could allow superheated steam into the plant’s main control room, inspectors recently informed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and the problem has regulators looking for answers as to how the weakness could have gone unnoticed for so long.

The problem was identified as a gap in a concrete barrier that could allow the steam to escape if there was a break in the line that transported the steam, NRC officials said.

“It could actually spew steam into the control room and that would imperil operations there,” said NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan.

So far Constellation Energy Nuclear Group, the operators of the plant, have taken the system off line, but will have to find a permanent solution to the problem, Sheehan said.

Both of the reactors at the plant are controlled from the central room, but a reserve control room exists to shut down the plant if necessary.

“But these reactors are also designed to shutdown automatically,” Sheehan said.

The initial report on the problem showed that it was found Dec. 8 during an inspection of one of the plants fire barriers.

The report stated, “the condition is believed to have existed from initial plant construction.”

Such a leak from the weakness, the report stated, “could likely affect the safety related equipment in the control room.”

The report showed that neither reactor had to be shutdown as a result of the weakness.

“The NRC will review the vulnerability, why it was not discovered prior to [Dec. 8] and plans to remedy it,” Sheehan said in a statement to The Calvert Gazette. guyleonard@countytimes.net

Calverton Taking Advantage of County’s Tax Free Status

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer

Sewer Smoke Testing Underway Photo by Frank Marquart

Workers with Goel Services Inc. were found in Solomons Island Tuesday morning blowing smoke into storm drains and sewers to determine entry points for external water. Site manager Jerome Vest said when water from the bay is getting into the drains, it can cause them to flood more easily, or even flood during a normal high tide. He said Goel has not found any issues yet, but smoke testing is one of the best ways to sniff out potential defects in the system. Should any issues be discovered in Solomons, Vest said the county could have to bring in another contractor for the repair work.

Using Calvert County as a “conduit issuer”, the Calverton School in Huntingtown will be refinancing old debts, an action approved by Board of County Commissioners Dec. 6.

Calverton School, as a 501(c) (3) corporation, originally issued tax-exempt bonds to build the BowenThomas Science and Arts Center in 1999. The bonds were issued through the Maryland Health and Higher Education Facilities Authority (MHHEFA). The school is refinancing their current debt, according to Wendy Ferrante with Marketing and Admissions at the Calverton School.

She said the idea came from George K. Baum & Company, a firm the Calverton School hired to help with the refinance process.

“Their company is an expert in the bond process for independent schools,” Ferrante said. “Our consultant suggested using the county as a conduit under the Maryland Economic Development Revenue Bond Act of Maryland to issue the tax-exempt bonds.”

MELLOMAR GOLF PARK

Ferrante said they chose to ask Calvert County instead of MHHEFA for three reasons – Calverton School has to pay the issuing authority and using the county means the money would go to benefit the county directly; there is less paperwork involved; and, “it’s a way to work with our county, our community and keep the money local.”

Ferrante said the county will face no risk acting as the conduit issuer for the bonds.

“The school went through an Request for Proposal (RFP) process for the bonds, and Old Line Bank, a community bank, will purchase the bonds in a direct purchase transaction,” Ferrante said.

Director of the Department of Finance and Budget Tim Hayden agreed with Ferrante, saying the county bond rating will not be at risk.

“We’re really just a flow through,” Hayden said.

He said being a conduit issuer is not something the county often does. The last incident he remembers is when Asbury Solomons did something similar when constructing the retirement community. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

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COUNTY NEWS

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Town Hears Army Corps Plan for Wetland Restoration

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer A plan by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers aims to restore the northern stretch of wetlands in the Town of North Beach, and includes digging channels in the areas west of Route 261.

This would allow for greater tidal water flow into the wetlands and grasses which stand there. Engineers propose this to allow different vegetation to take root in the marshes in the northern stretch of town to replace what they believe are an invasive species that choke off wetland flora and fauna.

These invasive plants, known as phragmities, will be the target of forced removal, the plan states.

The plan calls for a new culvert pipe at both the northern and southern ends of Route 261 at the wetlands. Town engineer John Hofmann told town council members that the culvert under the highway at the border with Anne Arundel County would have two-to-three times the capacity of the present one to combat heavy sedimentation in the pipe.

Finally the plan calls for breakwaters in the bay east of the roadway and wetlands.

The total cost of the army corps’ plans came to a little over $2.4 million to be shared between the corps and the town.

Councilman Randy Hummel said the town might look to private environmental and conservation groups for grant money to help pay for their portion of the project, but one of the big

issues will be to convince property owners whose land will be affected by the project to agree to the work.

“Very little of that is town owned,” Hummel said. “You have the town and corps who want to do it but you have to get the property owners on board.”

Hummel said that improving the wetlands by getting rid of the invasive plants will mean higher resale value for property overlooking a vibrant habitat instead of what he called “what is fast becoming a water logged desert.” guyleonard@countytimes.net

Town Searching for Groups Work to Keep Crab Industry Steady Engineering Help

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer

A multi-county effort is underway to help steady the crabbing industry and find ways to appease both watermen and the government.

To help study the crabs, the water in the bay and how to keep both healthy, the Department of Natural Resources brought in the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), according to Tommy Zinn, president of the Calvert County Watermen’s Association.

“We are passionate environmental advocates who believe in prosperity and stewardship. Grounded in science, we forge partnerships and harness the power of market incentives,” the EDF website reads.

Zinn said the EDF and representatives from all counties bordering the Chesapeake Bay and it’s tributaries meet once per month to discuss the challenges facing watermen in the future and how to make crabbing a “sustainable industry.”

He said some ideas from those discussions are better than

others.

“Some of the ideas are real good,” Zinn said. “Some of them are way out there and we’re scared of them.”

Ideas presented include season caps on crabbing based on the approximate crab population, or restricting dredging of egg-bearing females – a law already in effect in Virginia.

He said it is the nature of crabs to quickly become scarce, but also to quickly recover.

“It stabilizes itself, usually,” Zinn said.

While crabs are generally sturdy creatures, Zinn said the oxygen level in the water has a large impact on the number of crabs available for harvesting and where they migrate.

He said working with the EDF is voluntary, and Zinn said the brainstorming sessions have yielded “a lot of little things they’re working on to make a difference.”

For more information, visit www.edf.org. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The North Beach Town Council authorized staff last week to seek bids for engineering contractors to help resolve flooding problems on 9th Street between Bay and Atlantic avenues.

The object of bringing in an experienced engineering firm is to advise the town in ways they could reduce flooding using the existing infrastructure in town, as well as plans by the Army Corp of Engineers to save the wetlands in the northern section of town by channeling in more sea water to improve conditions there.

Town officials said the town’s proximity to water and its low elevation will always make it vulnerable to flooding, but certain public works projects can at least reduce it.

The bids are due by Jan. 20 to the town hall.

Efforts Underway Audit: State OK’d Medicaid Payments to the Dead to Increase Cigarette Tax

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer Like the alcohol tax before it, the cigarette tax is under study as a way to raise money for public health services.

Vincent DeMarco, president of the Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative, hopes to raise the cigarette tax by $1 during the next legislative season starting in January in the Healthy Maryland Initiative II. According to his proposed legislature, the money form the tax will go to benefit “the state tobacco control program; the state health improvement process and other community based health initiatives including those that address childhood obesity, long term care for seniors; and, improved access to health care services for Maryland families.”

DeMarco is hoping the tax increase will affect cigar and smokeless tobacco as well as cigarettes. He said he has more than 300 groups already endorsing his proposed tax raise.

Studies show a direct correlation between the price of cigarettes and the amount of people purchasing packs, DeMarco said.

He said the new tax should cut down on the number of both adults and minors purchasing cigarettes, which will promote healthier lifestyles. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

A state report released last week shows the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Department of Human Resources allowed $2.5 million in Medicaid benefits to 323 people after they had reportedly died.

The audit by the Office of Legislative Audits attempted to find whether the master list of dead individuals held by the Social Security Administration was a reliable tool to screen for erroneous payments — auditors found that it was, according to the report.

When they matched the master list names to records held by the health and mental hygiene agency they confirmed the state had dispersed $426,000 to 10 people who were confirmed dead, the report stated.

The Medicaid eligibility file also likely had other problems like inaccuracies over names of eligible persons, social security numbers and their dates of birth.

These payments often went on for months after the person’s death and should have been corrected by state staff, the audit stated.

In its work, the audit team found that neither the health agency nor the human resources agency used any kind of nationwide list to discern which payments were made to people who had died in other states.

The test sample of the 10 who actually died used by the auditors to plumb the extent of the improper payments showed that only four of them had died in Maryland; this meant that the remaining near 300 people who had reportedly died needed to be confirmed by the state to in fact have expired, the report stated.

Between 2007 and 2010 six of those 10 payments tested by auditors went to dead people in North Carolina, Washington, D.C., Florida, Mississippi and Virginia the report stated.

“Based on the results and certain limitations within the Department of Human Resources and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s existing procedures to identify deceased individuals, we believe the Medicaid eligibility file should be periodically matched against the [death master list.],” the report stated.

Del. John Bohanan (D-Dist.29B) said that legislators would attempt to correct agencies this coming session in Annapolis following this audit and several others that have recently catalogued waste.

“We have a very aggressive audit system … it’s always taken very seriously by the legislature and that’s what we’re going after,” Bohanan said. “That’s what we expect is to get good value for taxpayers dollars.” guyleonard@countytimes.net

Meals on Wheels Drivers Needed Have you been looking for a way to make a difference in the lives of your fellow Calvert Countians?

Calvert Meals on Wheels is in need of drivers in all areas of the county. Each weekday Meals on Wheels delivers a hot, nutritious meal to people who are ill or homebound and unable to shop or cook for themselves.

As meals are delivered mid-day, this is a perfect volunteer opportunity for retirees, moms with pre-school age children, or anyone whose schedule allows them to be free from approximately 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers are only asked to commit to deliver meals one day per month.

If this sounds like the service opportunity you have been looking for please call Tunya Taylor at the Calvert County Office on Aging (410-5354606) to be put in touch with the Meals on Wheels coordinator of the area in which you would like to drive.

Helping others - what a wonderful New Year’s Resolution!

COUNTY NEWS

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, December 15, 2011

6

Cops Protect Christmas Wishes

Sixth Annual Shop with a Cop

1st Sgt. Timothy Buckmaster and his daughter, Emily, 7, in the pink coat are assisting Shawna McPherson, 8, in the Barbie section.

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer Teachable moments probably wouldn’t top the list of benefits local law enforcement provides when shopping with local youth. Nevertheless, making choices and money management seemed to be a common theme at the sixth Annual Shop with a Cop on Saturday.

As uniformed officers pushed shopping carts, they assisted 68 at-risk children with holiday shopping by transporting them to the store, calling off the next person or item on the list, calculating purchases on their smart phones and wrapping presents.

“You have $18 left. What would you like to get?”

“If you get that, you won’t have enough to buy the other gift you wanted for your sister. That’s okay, if that is what you want.”

Prior to arriving at the Prince Frederick Wal-Mart in a parade of police units with flashing lights, wailing sirens and honking horns, over 35 police officers and volunteers met at Prince Frederick’s Outback Steakhouse for morning snacks.

The caravan of law enforcement vehicles pulling into WalMart’s parking lot drew the attention of other shoppers, who lined the median waiving. At the front of the store Optimist Club members Ed Dorsey and Tom Parran sat at a table with a sign

Photos by Corrin M. Howe

and a Shop with a Cop donation bucket.

Once inside the store, Wal-Mart employees greeted everyone, helped with clothing sizes, locating items and checking prices. One young employee manned the Christmas cookie and juice station near sporting goods.

Although a few shoppers sprinkled the clothing and house wares departments, the majority of the shoppers and volunteers hung out in the back of the store where electronics, toys, games, books, and DVDs are located. The aisle with Star Wars, Beyblades, Nerf Guns and Legos should’ve had a traffic cop to regulate the flow, but it seems all available local law enforcement were otherwise preoccupied.

Prince George’s Police Officer Trevor Krauss seemed to spend most of his time trying to convince Frankie Landis, 9, to buy something for himself. Landis said he wanted to shop for his sisters, ages 13 and 14, who were too old for the program. After Krauss made his way through the congested aisle for Lego construction kits and Pokemon, he took his young shopper to check out where they discovered they still had $62 on the gift card.

“Come on, we’ve got work to do,” Krauss pointed the cart back down the toy aisle.

With purchases secured, the officers drove their young friends down to St. Leonard Fire Department where the Company Seven Ladies Auxiliary prepared a full breakfast for everyone. President Willie Sickle said she had six volunteers who started setting up around 7 a.m.

Several bays of the garage were filled with white plastic banquet tables where volunteers, officers and kids spread out with wrapping paper, tape, bows and labels.

Volunteer Fred Monger seemed to be an expert in wrapping as he, Janiya Lancaster, and Trooper Dave Ruel established a wrapping assembly line.

“She (Lancaster) did a really good job. This is the fastest I’ve ever gotten in and out,” Ruel said.

“Maybe you’ll have me next year,” said Lancaster.

“I hope so,” replied Ruel.

One young man tried to purchase a gift for his assigned officer. DFC Andrew Clas assured him running his sirens, honking his horn and making as much noise as possible without getting censured was his Christmas gift.

Generosity seemed to be the one lesson the young shoppers didn’t need. An informal poll asking them “What was the best part of the day?” came back unanimously “Shopping for others.”

timist Clubs sponsor Shop with a Cop throughout Maryland.

• The Fraternal Order of Police co-sponsors the program.

Local Law Enforcement was represented by Calvert Sheriff, State Police, Department of Natural Resources, Prince George’s County police and Maryland National Guard.

• Each officer was paired with a volunteer and two shoppers.

• Shoppers received a $150 Wal-Mart gift cards from Shop with a Cop and tax-free purchases from Wal-Mart.

• Longtime sponsor Stephanie Kucan, owner of Prince Frederick Outback Steakhouse was disappointed to hear from the committee that they’d outgrown her venue. She said, “What do I have to do? I’ll expand!”

• Shop with a Cop committee meets monthly from February to December. “We always need volunteers and money,” Bateman said.

Shop With a Cop Facts 8, and Micah Pratt, 9, are looking for towels, while Det. Sarah Jerni• Janet Bateman, founder of Calvert’s Shop with a Cop, has Ishyne, gan and Susan Fischer check to see the next items on the shopping list. participated in St. Mary’s program for 15 years. She brought the idea to her husband, a member of Solomon’s Optimist Club. OpLaw Enforcement units filled with kids and volunteers left Prince Frederick’s Outback Steakhouse with lights flashing and sirens wailing as they drove to Wal-Mart.

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Thursday, December 15, 2011

The Calvert Gazette

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Community CSM’s Theresa Johnson Named Communicator of the Year

College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Senior Executive Director of Marketing Theresa Johnson was named Communicator of the Year by the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) District I at its annual conference in Baltimore.

“Theresa has consistently demonstrated leadership and creativity in the world of marketing and communications, not only at CSM but at the state and national levels through inspiring and clever campaigns and onpoint messaging,” CSM Vice President of Advancement Michelle Goodwin said in a press release. “Theresa is respected and admired by her colleagues and peers for her professionalism and deserves this award—we are hopeful that she will receive the national award as well.”

Johnson, who joined CSM 10 years ago, was recognized for her efforts in re-branding the college through the “Realize your Potential” and “Real Students. Real Stories” campaigns.

The NCMPR award committee stated that, “Johnson has built a team of brand champions representing every area of CSM, where employees throughout the organization have embraced her genuine enthusiasm for customer service-driven brand management.”

“I am extremely humbled to receive this award.

The college is a great place to work, and I work with such a talented team—they make my job easy,” Johnson said.

In addition to Communicator of the Year award, CSM’s Marketing and Community Relations departments received a gold award for a specialty advertising campaign, with silver awards for printed schedule, college viewbook and a college promotional video, and bronze awards for a newsletter and a community relations project of the Pulse of Southern Maryland.

For information on CSM, visit www.csmd. edu.

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The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, December 15, 2011

8

Red Knights Buy $4,000-Plus in Toys for Kids

On Saturday, the Red Knights Motorcycle Club Maryland 4 met at K-Mart in Prince Frederick to spend over $4,000 buying gifts for children involved with the social services system of Calvert and St. Mary’s counties, a press release states.

The money was raised by the motorcycle club’s two “boot drives” on Nov. 26 at the intersection of Dares Beach Road and Route 4, and on Dec. 3 at the intersection of First Colony Blvd and Route 235.

“We would like to extend our most sincere gratitude to all the people who stopped and gave what they could” said Chapter president Al Billings “Without their generosity this would not be possible.”

During the collections, the group was accompanied

by Santa Claus, who came in riding his Red Harley Davidson Motorcycle with a bag full of goodies on the back, and took time to take pictures with kids that came by to visit. The “elves” and Santa handed out candy canes to all the motorists they could.

“Next year we hope to convince Charles County Commissioners to allow us to do the “boot drive” fund raising, which would allow us to help Charles County Children as well.” Billings said “Currently Charles County Law prohibits that type of fund raising” Stacey Welling, The club Quartermaster has been working for months on the planning of this years’ event. He has worked closely with the employees of the Social Services departments now for two years.

“The departments gave us a list with the age and gender of over 87 children ranging in age from 6 months to 17 years who are involved with their agencies this year. Last year it was about 120,” he said.

Welling took it a step further by even negotiating additional discounts from K-Mart and scheduled the shopping for a day that a sale that would maximize the amount of gifts that could be purchased. Many members showed up at 10 a.m., and with the assistance of the store manager and a few employees they spent over 5 hours filling the lists.

“K-Mart helped a huge amount and kicked in a gift card of $400 to be spent,” Welling said. Over 13 carts were overflowing when it came time to load up the sleigh and take it to the ‘wrapping shop’, where the members stayed on duty until almost 9 p.m.

Along with the gifts, each child will receive a stocking that is filled with goodies and a card, as well as a nice winter hat and gloves.

“One gentleman with a very big heart even stopped us in the store and handed us a 50 dollar bill to add to the shopping” said Treasurer Kim Welling “and that after all the discounts and donations are added together we will be getting over $5,400 in gifts.”

The club will be getting together again on Friday to deliver the ribbon wrapped bags to the agencies for them to ensure Christmas delivery to the kids.

Red Knights Maryland Chapter 4 is a non-profit group that was founded in 2003 and is comprised of Firefighters (present and past) and their families from 15 to 75 years old, living in Southern Maryland. They are the local members of the Red Knights International Firefighters Motorcycle Club started in 1982 that has nearly 10,000 members in 13 Countries on 3 Continents. For more information, visit www.rkmcmd4.com.

Cat of the Week

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Stop by and see Kara at the Calvert Animal Welfare League Prince Frederick Friday - Sunday 11AM to 3PM or call 410 535 9300

9

Thursday, December 15, 2011

The Calvert Gazette

Students Immersed in Ellis Island Experience

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer Calverton students don’t just study the Ellis Island immigration process in the early 1900s; they live it.

The third grade began reading kid friendly books about immigrants coming from all over the world with hopes of being accepted into the United States. They use information they gather from books such as “At Ellis Island,” “Immigration Kids” and “If Your Name Was Changed.”

Third Grade teacher Bonnie Burk said the students read books about Ellis Island, research for four weeks, plan props, practice their presentation and then move into dress rehearsals.

The culmination of all their work manifested Tuesday, when they walked other students, staff and parents through an authentic experience of being processed at Ellis Island.

The first station is a short presentation, much like one would receive at a museum or historical site.

The students created their own PowerPoint of “Who Am I?” as an introduction to what visitors could expect at Ellis Island.

Before leaving the presentation, each person receives a new Pamela Sayuri, parent, is being interviewed by Charlie Blocksidge. identity which gives them a role to play. Next they sit in lines to be seen by doctors and nurses, interviewers, name recorders, bankers, dining hall workers, ferry boat captain and finally train engineers.

Doctors and nurses can reject applicants for mental and health reasons. Interviewers ask hopeful citizens a number of questions such as who is sponsoring them; do they read and write English, and do they have a criminal past? Interviewers may also reject potential citizens for a number of reasons.

Once accepted, name recorders change their names to make them more American.

Bankers exchange their foreign currency for American bills. Then the tired and hungry masses eat beef stew and corn bread in the dining hall. Finally the ferryboat captain and train engineers transport them.

The students displayed black and white photos from the 1900s of actual stations on Ellis Island, dressed in period-looking styles and served actual menu items found in the historic dining hall.

One young man, so emerged into his experience, was overheard saying, “I didn’t get seasick on the ferry like I normally do.”

Spotlight On

Family-Friendly Activities at Holiday Festival

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer Staff, teachers, volunteers and parents at Barstow Elementary School all agree they are a family-friendly community.

Recently everyone gathered together one evening after school for their Fourth Annual Holiday Festival held in the school’s cafeteria and gym.

“We try to offer low budget activities so families can come together, relax and meet each other,” said Principal Donna House.

Two examples observed during the evening proved their claim. A mixed group of three or four families sat at one cafeteria table finishing up their hot dogs, chips and drinks.

“Abuela” from one family held infant Tristan, while dad, Mike, watched Hayden and Garrett running around. Mia played a hand game with another gentleman, who scurried off.

Two sets of parents were initially surprised and then tossed back their heads and laughed when four boys from two families climbed into the sleigh with Santa. Instead of getting family Christmas pictures with Santa, they opted to pay for the joint family pictures. Hank and Hutch Valentin know Luke and Gavin NcNeary from kindergarten and second grade.

The fifth grade level held their annual fundraiser for the year-end trip to West River. Students and teachers volunteered to sell concessions and charge a dollar for face painting, temporary tattoos and washable colored hairspray.

The PTA held a fundraiser charging for pictures with Santa. However, they also sponsored a holiday shop where students could purchase gifts for family and friends at cost. In addition, the organization provided a free snowman craft.

“We had enough in the budget and we thought it would be a good gift for the kids to give to their parents,” said PTA President Maura Vilkoski. corrin@somdpublishing.net Melanie Osterhouse is helping her children Loralei and Jadon assemble a snowman with a bobble head.

Luke Moir, left, Jacob McCourt and Breanna Hill are dining room workers. In the foreground is an actual picture of Ellis Island immigrants eating in the dining room.

Lilly Davis, right, and Brezzie Curtis are holiday shopping for their families.

Brothers from two separate families, Hank and Hutch Valetin and Gavin and Luke McNeary climb up into Santa’s sleigh, made last year by Calvert Career Center. Fifth grade teacher Wendy Palensky is the photographer.

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, December 15, 2011

10

STORY

Iconic Solomons Bar Closes Its Doors Photo by Frank Marquart

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer After 15 years, Catamarans on Solomons Island is out of business.

“The reign is over,” said Jim Seymour, owner of Catamarans since 1996. He said he bought the property in 2000.

First Mariner Bank purchased the property at auction Nov. 10 for $840,000, according to Seymour. He said he owed $1.78 million on the property, which he was working with the bank to settle until “they stole it.”

As of Sunday, Catamarans, under Seymour’s ownership, shut its doors for good.

There were two liens on the Catamarans property, David C. Bischoff, vice president for First Mariner Bank told the Calvert County Liquor Board on Dec. 8. In purchasing the property, he said a chunk of the debt owed on the property will be absolved and Seymour will be responsible for the balance.

Until the bank purchased the property, Seymour said he was looking into drumming up more revenue though a franchise and the

mortgage company seemed like they were on board with the plan.

He said the economy is what killed him, and while he still technically owns the property and could fight it in court, he said his lawyer advised him against doing so.

Bischoff appeared before the Calvert County Liquor Board to discuss the sale of Catamarans and what will be done with the liquor license attached to the property. Bischoff lobbied to keep the license attached as is because it adds to the location’s value, and will make it easier for the next occupant to start business.

The liquor board said the license would stay in effect for 30 days after Seymour is no longer the owner. After that, the new owner will have to pursue a new license.

The current license was in an appeals process pertaining to a 30-day suspension the alcohol board handed out before Halloween. Members of the board anticipate Seymour dropping the appeal in the face of the foreclosure.

Sheriff Mike Evans said he foresees a decrease in the number of incidents on Solomons with the closure of Catamarans.

“I’m hoping the people who caused the problems in Solomons won’t move to another establishment,” Evans said.

Robert Swann, a resident of Solomons Island and past president of the Solomons Island Civic Association said he also anticipates a drop in the number of incidents and, while he wouldn’t say there was any one establishment at fault, “Catamaran’s has certainly had its share of those things.”

He said it is a matter of record that the civic association has been concerned about criminal incidents, including three recorded stabbings and multiple fights at Catamarans.

During the day, he said, Catamarans was a decent place and he often saw people dining outside. The problems often started with the late night crowd. He said the problems were “all related to what happened at night.”

“It became a problem that people were upset about,” Swann said.

Don Mueller, the current president of the Solomons Island Civic Association, said he had heard “island gossip” about the possibility of Catamarans going out of business, but hadn’t

heard anything concrete until last week.

While the civic association is not happy to see an establishment close its doors, the reputation and violence attributed to Catamarans and other venues is “unacceptable for the island” because of it’s potential impact on property values and giving Solomons Island a bad name by extension, Mueller said.

“I don’t want to see any businesses go out of businesses, because they make the island,” he said.

While there are people in the civic association who may be against the bars in the area, they don’t speak for the association as a whole, Mueller said. Many in the civic association recognize the need for the revenue the bars bring into the island.

Evans said Seymour tried to run a decent establishment, adding he feels sorrow for Seymour losing his livelihood, and for his employees losing their jobs right before Christmas.

Evans said the multiple incidents reported at Catamarans were not the fault of the management, but the people who showed up.

Mueller had no such reservations.

“You have three stabbings at a bar, something’s not being run right,” he said.

A clerk with the Calvert County circuit court said the foreclosure judgment is on a judge’s desk waiting for a signature, and a request for writ of possession is the next step.

After the writ is obtained, Seymour will be ordered to vacate the property, if he has not already done so.

So what’s next for Seymour? He said he plans to open a new restaurant in St. Mary’s County.

“I’m pretty much done with Solomons,” he said.

Seymour said he is currently in negotiations to open a restaurant in the former Lone Star Steakhouse building in Lexington Park with a 10-year lease and plans to purchase the property. If all goes smoothly in getting a liquor license, he plans to open a restaurant by February.

As for the Catamarans property, Bischoff said buyers are interested in purchasing the property; some even came forward at the auction Nov. 10.

Several calls and emails to Calvert County Department of Economic Development officials went unanswered as of Tuesday. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

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The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Last Business After Hours of the Year

By Corrin M Howe Staff Writer The Prince Frederick campus of the College of Southern Maryland hosted the last Business After Hours of the calendar year for the Calvert Chamber of Commerce.

According to representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, the college venue is one of the most popular. The central location and previous spread of food are the reasons it is a favorite among businesses.

This year banquet tables, dividing the middle of the largest meeting room on campus, were filled with crab dip, spinach/ artichoke, meatballs, cheeses and crackers.

In the background two award winning pianists split the duties of providing the music. According to Dr. Richard Fleming, vice president and dean of the Prince Frederick Campus, Christina Smith came in second and third, respectively in the

Southern Maryland Piano Competition for 2010 and 2011. Ruth Alonzo came in first for the 2010 competition sponsored by the college.

Fleming announced in future years events can be held in the second building due to begin construction in January 2012. The meeting room will be three times the size of the current room with sophisticated wiring and multi-media.

During the meeting the Board of Directors for Chamber handed the Board of Directors for CSM and the endowment a check $3,000 for scholarships and $202 for the endowment fund.

The next Business After Hours is at Annmarie Gardens Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dream Weaver Events Catering is

making the food. The cost to attend the event is $5 for chamber members and $20 for non-members. All proceeds go for the scholarship fund. Call the Chamber to RSVP at 410-535-2577.

From Childhood Landmark to Retirement Dream

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer “I grew up down the street. from here. We walked by this building as kids,” said Francine Clark, Owner of Fran Scenes Gift Wrap Central, which opened its doors on Black Friday in the structure which used to house Guido’s Restaurant in Lusby.

Clark, 35 years ago, worked at the gift shop on Main Street in Prince Frederick owned by Maurice T. Lusby, Sr. She worked with her aunt, Mary Hawkins, at the Lusby Fran Scenes Gift Wrap Central in Lusby offers free and reasonstore for more than five years. able fee gift wrapping.

After working a number of jobs ranging from Mary Kay consultant to managing the front desk at Solomons’ Hilton Garden Inn, she decided her retirement gift to herself was to become a business owner.

About a year and a half ago, Clark got a vision to open her own full service gift shop that includes gift wrapping services. It took a good six months “to move forward” and set up her trade name and license and establish retailer to wholesaler relationships and make good deals on items from other businesses going out of business.

“I noticed not a lot of places offer free gift wrapping,” she said.

Customers who purchase an item in the store receive free gift wrapping while others can bring by purchases and pay a small fee. Clark said she is getting traffic from men bringing in gifts they need wrapped. She feels it is a great way to get people into her store.

She offers a range of gifts from children to adult, party goods, balloon station, greeting cards and vintage items, which she’s discovered are popular.

Frances Hutchins, Clark’s mom, is the store’s official greeter. Jannice Jones is a sales associate and Clark hires high school students for afternoon and weekend work. Her extended family also volunteers to work.

Clark is pleased with the response and support she’s received from the community. Eastern and St. John’s United Methodist Churches, SMILE, the Senior Center in Lusby have all been spreading the word.

For more information, Clark does have a website: www.franscenesgiftwc.com.

Frances Hutchins, Jannice Jones, Francine Clark stand behind the counter of Fran Scenes.

Jim Frost, left, and Rich Bittner, both of R-Tech Consulting, LLC join Susan Lantz, a local CPA and volunteer for Relay for Life.

Calvert County Board of Commissioner President Susan Shaw chats with Calvert Public Library Director Patricia Hofmann.

The Calvert Gazette

POLICE BLOTTER Deputies Investigate Theft

Someone stole a 12’ by 20’ white canopy tent worth $1200 from a worksite on 17th Street near the bay in Chesapeake Beach.

The theft occurred sometime between Dec. 4 and 5. Anyone with information is asked to contact DFC R. Kreps at 410-535-2800.

Woman charged in prescription drug case

On Dec. 6 at 10:46 p.m. Dep. A. Mohler conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on Md. Rt. 4 southbound near H.G. Trueman Road in Lusby. After making contact with the driver who initially gave a false name and date of birth, police alleged, Mohler found her to be in possession of suspected drugs. He arrested Tracey Doreen Foote, 47, of Lusby, and charged her with possession of oxycodone, possession of zolpidem tartrate, possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia, a pill grinder and making a false statement to a peace officer.

Deputies Investigate Identity Theft

On Dec. 9 at 3:33 a victim advised DFC J. Windsor that someone had stolen her wallet out of her purse while she shopped at the Prince Frederick Giant. The suspect(s) then used the victim’s credit card at a nearby store to charge $1800 in merchandise. Anyone with information is asked to contact DFC Windsor at 410-535-2800.

Items Stolen From Yard

Unknown suspect(s) stole stainless steel and metal objects from the yard of a home on Buckler Road in Huntingtown on Dec. 10 between 11 a.m. and noon.

Metal car ramps, a Summit tree stand, and metal trellises were among the items taken. DFC D. Deakins is investigating.

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Church Volunteer Dies in Fall

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer An officer with the U.S. Capitol Police died Dec. 8 in Lusby after he fell from a ladder while helping do volunteer work at The Potter’s Place church in St. Leonard.

Lt. Steve Jones, commander of the Calvert Investigative Team, said that Officer Brian Keith Dowell, of Dowell, was helping erect a steeple on the church when he fell between 15 to 17 feet.

Despite paramedic care on the scene of the accident, Powell was declared dead

at Calvert Memorial Hospital, Jones said.

“What a tragedy,” Jones said.

According to his obituary, Dowell, 44, was a life long resident of Calvert County.

Prior to becoming a member of The Potter’s Place, he served as a Deacon at Southern Calvert Baptist Church. He recently built a porch roof over the entrance to The Potter’s Place. He was a U.S. Army veteran and a member of the Solomon’s Volunteer Rescue Squad and Fire Department. guyleonard@countytimes.net

Owings Man Sentenced in Fraudulent Billing Scheme

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer An Owings man who federal prosecutors say conspired with his father to fraudulently bill the National Security Agency (NSA) of nearly $1.5 million over a decade was convicted by a jury last week for conspiracy to commit and committing wire fraud.

Donald Turley, 54, and his father William Turley, 71, of Annapolis, received the jury’s verdict Dec. 8, according to U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein’s office.

“The jury spoke loud and clear that gouging government contracts and fraudulently billing the government will not be tolerated,” said Defense Criminal Investigative Service special agent in charge Robert Craig.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office information, William Turley owned the Bechdon Company in Upper Marlboro that manufactured metal, plastic and sheet metal products for the NSA among other customers; Donald Turley worked for the company until 2008 and managed the NSA contract, federal authorities stated.

Federal prosecutors alleged that both men along with Christina Turley Knott, William Turley’s daughter, told their employees to inflate the number of hours they worked on NSA jobs.

Prosecutors also said that both men chose not to report Knott’s

House Burgled Of Copper Pipe

Someone burglarized a home on Chavez Lane in Chesapeake Beach sometime between Dec. 5 and 11 and stole about 80 feet of copper piping that was currently in use in the house. An unknown tool was used to cut the pipe. Dep. J. Parsons is investigating.

own fraud, the embezzling of $4.5 million from the company, for fear she would reveal William and Donald Turley’s fraud against the government.

Knott had already pleaded guilty to failing to pay taxes on that $4.5 million she was alleged to have embezzled, federal authorities stated, as well as fraudulently billing the NSA. She faces 20 years in prison.

Federal authorities became suspicious when both men sought security clearances at NSA in 2006 and 2007 to allow them to seek bids on classified contracts; this meant they had to submit to polygraph tests.

During William Turley’s interview on March 24, 2006 he admitted to “moving time around” on NSA contracts and also admitted that his conduct was “illegal,” federal authorities stated.

Donald Turley admitted in his 2007 polygraph interview that he had inflated the amount of time he had worked on NSA jobs and told his employees to do the same, federal authorities stated.

Both Donald and William Turley face 20 years in prison for conspiracy and for wire fraud, forfeiture of more than $1.45 million in fraudulent payments as well as properties they owned in Annapolis, Owings and in Palm Beach, Florida. guyleonard@countytimes.net

Over 250,000 Southern Marylanders can’t be wrong!

Woman Charged With Trespass

On Dec. 11 at about 10:00 p.m.

Cpl. A. Moschetto arrested Teresa Hughes Giles, 49, of Lexington Park, and charged her with trespass and hindering a police officer after she allegedly refused to leave an acquaintance’s home on Stirrup Lane in Lusby. Cpl. Moschetto was able to get Giles into his squad car to return her to St. Mary’s County when she began to appear to drift in and out of consciousness. An ambulance was called and Giles was transported to Calvert Memorial Hospital where she refused treatment and laughed to the nurses that she had avoided arrest, police said. Cpl. Moschetto responded to the hospital and arrested Giles.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

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Thursday, December 15, 2011

The Calvert Gazette

L

Municipal Millionaires Many of The ‘1 Percent’

Editor

S

Guest Editorial:

TER T E to the

By Marta Hummel Mossburg

According to Occupy Wall Street protesters and Democrats, the Grinch stealing Christmas this season is the collective corpus of bankers, hedge fund managers and other financial-sector bigwigs who don’t pay their fair share in taxes.

It’s easy to see why. They make perfect scapegoats for unemployed college graduates with lots of debt, big-government liberals and others who want to believe a black-and-white narrative of the country’s financial colThe holiday season is upon us and this year the American Red Cross is urging lapse and blame someone. people to give something that means something by donating to the Red Cross and helpBut protesters and others should hold a mirror up to themselves and ing those in need. check the facts on the “1 percent.”

The Red Cross has launched a holiday fundraising campaign, asking everyone to Their stereotype does not hold, especially here. Maryland has the visit www.redcross.org/gifts <http://www.redcross.org/gifts> to make a donation in highest percentage of millionaires of any state in the nation, according to the name of the people on their gift list this year. Their donation can help provide food the Census, in large part due to the thousands of federal employees with large pensions. It is also the and shelter to a victim of disaster, help purchase things like phone cards and supplies wealthiest state in the nation in terms of household income, due significantly to people who make for a member of the armed forces, or help supply basic necessities to families in despermoney off of the federal government as employees or contractors. ate need in countries across the world.

Many others earn huge salaries from hospitals and other nonprofits whose main funder is governEveryone is invited to browse through the Red Cross Holiday Giving Catalog and ment. In Baltimore City, 33 percent of the private sector is employed in a business designed not to turn view symbolic gifts they can “purchase” for, or in honor of, a loved one - things like a profit, compared to 8.6 percent nationally. infant care kits for babies in emergency shelters, comfort kits for wounded warriors, And last week The Baltimore Sun reported that some Baltimore County police officers are retiring or water containers used when natural disasters disrupt a community’s water supply with a $500,000 payout — on top of annual pension payments upwards of $150,000 per year. Maryland overseas. is not the only place where this is happening. The phenomenon of municipal millionaires is causing In Maryland, the Red Cross responds to an average of the three disasters every financial nightmares for cities across the country who cannot afford the large retirement benefits promday. That fact combined with the effects of Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee and ised to government employees in better times without cutting core services and raising taxes. a record number of disasters around the country, made fiscal year 2011 a busy and exThese are the people occupying the top income tiers in Maryland and across the nation and whose pensive year for the Red Cross. Red Cross chapters responded to more than 68,000 dibenefits ensure they will stay on top for the rest of their lives. Only a tiny fraction of private-sector sasters across the country, including the launch of major relief operations for wildfires workers can hope for such income and retirement security. that burned hundreds of thousands of acres; tornadoes that destroyed entire towns; and But don’t hold your breath waiting for Occupy Wall Streeters or the state’s dominant party to flooding that left communities under water from the Dakotas to the East Coast. criticize government for making people wealthy.

Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces workers provided assistance to more than In their minds, more government is needed to make more people as affluent as those who are al386,000 members of the military and their families, veterans and civilians. Red Cross ready enjoying a great lifestyle at someone else’s expense. That is why Gov. Martin O’Malley has been Blood Services distributed more than nine million blood products for patients in nearly pushing billions more in spending on a federal jobs bill in his role as head of the Democratic Governors 3,000 hospitals across the United States. The Red Cross enrolled more than 8.2 million Association. It’s also why Democrats (and many Republicans) prefer to raise taxes than cut spending people in health and safety training such as first aid and CPR, aquatics and water safety. or restructure entitlements.

As part of the global Red Cross network in more than 180 countries around the world, It doesn’t matter that the previous stimulus spending didn’t work as advertised. Nor does it seem to the American Red Cross responded to disasters and public health emergencies in more register that redistribution works only so long as there is money to take from someplace else. than 60 countries.

Blaming Wall Street is easier and so much more fun than extirpating the root cause of financial The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to vicproblems plaguing our city and state and those around the country — too much spending. tims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; The other issue is that politicians of both parties don’t want justice for Wall Street. As a Sunday provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their “60 Minutes” piece points out, the Obama administration has prosecuted no high-ranking Wall Street families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — executive or financial firm in the last three years. This reprieve exists despite widespread fraud and and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its chronic misrepresentations of “too big to fail” banks’ financial health. In fact, prosecutions of financial mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http:// fraud are at a 20-year low, according to a Syracuse University study cited in the “60 Minutes” report. blog.redcross.org.

Look no further than the special treatment offered to members of Congress by those very same firms and the thousands in campaign donations from their executives to answer why nothing has Douglas Lent happened.

Baltimore, MD So, on one hand, there is willful blindness to the role played by an ever-expanding government in the collapse of local and state finances. On the other, there is an unwillingness to hold those on Wall Street who played a significant role in destroying the country’s economy accountable for their actions.

These are not problems solved by making a few people pay higher taxes. They require purging the entitlement mentality at all points of the income spectrum and forcing people to take responsibility for themselves. The problem is finding politicians and Americans — half of whom don’t pay federal income taxes but expect to be taken care of — willing to Publisher Thomas McKay take the prescription.

Give Something That Means Something This Holiday Season

Marta Hummel Mossburg is a senior fellow at the Maryland Public Policy Institute.

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The Calvert Gazette

Shelly Aley, 44 Shelly Lynn Aley, 44, of Huntingtown, MD passed away December 2, 2011 at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. Shelly was born July 30, 1967 in Annapolis, MD to Barbara I. (Boteler) and W. Wayne Morris, and was raised in Calvert County. She attended the former Fairview Elementary, Mt. Harmony Elementary, and Northern Middle School, and graduated from Northern High School, class of 1985.

She was employed as a secretary with the Prince George’s County Office of the States Attorney, and since 1994 has been a full time homemaker. She married David B. Aley on September 26, 1987, and they made their home and raised their family in Huntingtown. Shelly was a lifelong member of First Lutheran Church of Calvert County in Huntingtown where she was also a Sunday school teacher. She was devoted to her family and loved spending time with her children at school events, shopping, family outings, reunions, and vacations. She was also was fond of reading.

Shelly is survived by her husband David and their eight children, Brittany, Courtney, Linsey, Holly, Cassidy, Ashley, Cody, and Carley. She is also survived by her parents Barbara and Wayne Morris of Owings, her brother Todd Morris of Arlington, VA, and her mother-inlaw and father-law Judy and Wallace Aley, Jr. of Owings.

Family and friends were received at the Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., 8325 Mt. Harmony Lane on Thursday Dec. 8. A funeral service and celebration of Shelly’s life was held Dec. 9, at the First Lutheran Church of Calvert County, 6300 Southern Maryland Boulevard, Huntingtown, MD. Interment was at Chesapeake Highlands Memorial Gardens, Port Republic, MD, followed by a reception for family and friends at the Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department.

Arrangements by Rausch Funeral Home, 8325 Mount Harmony Lane, Owings, MD

Brian Dowell, 44 Brian “Keith” Dowell, 44 of Dowell, MD was carried home by our Lord on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011.

Keith was born in Calvert County on Dec.

31, 1966, and resided in Dowell his entire life.

Keith and his family, Valerie, Autumn and Justin recently began attending services at The Potter’s Place, a one room church where his wife, Valerie serves as music director. Prior to moving to the Potter’s Place Keith served as a Deacon at Southern Calvert Baptist Church. After moving to the Potter’s Place, Keith continued his life of service by truly acting as the hands and feet of Jesus and doing all he could to help those around him. He did what he thought needed to be done. He built a porch roof over the entrance to the church to protect people from the weather. After he finished that he told his wife that he wanted to build a steeple for the church.

On Dec. 8, 2011 he gathered his tools and headed out to build his vision. He drew a small diagram of his idea on a piece of notebook paper, and then started construction. Regretfully, it was the last thing he would ever do while on this earth. He was doing something for others.

If we all can be that sincere and that giving in our last moments on earth, it truly can be a better place.

Keith lived his entire life with a servant’s heart. He volunteered with the Solomon’s Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department as soon as he was old enough to get involved. Since he was younger, and smaller than many members of the department, they nicknamed him Smurf.

He eventually became a Sergeant with the Department. He later served our country for five years in the United States Army, as a Military Police Officer, and continued as a member of the Army National Guard. He became a United States Capital Police Officer in 2002, and worked there until his death.

Keith is survived by his wife, Valerie, his daughter, Autumn, and his son, Justin, as well as his siblings, Barry Dowell, Brad Dowell, and Laura Wright, and his Grandmother, Velma Dowell. Keith is the third son of Retired Maryland State Trooper, C. “Buckie” and Brenda Dowell, and the son-in-law of Mike and Ronnie Warren, of Lusby, Maryland.

The family received friends on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011 at Southern Calvert Baptist Church, 12140 H. G. Trueman Road, Lusby, MD 20657 at 11:00 AM until the time of the service celebrating Keith’s life at 1:00 PM. Interment will be private.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Autumn and Justin Fund. Donations can be made at any PNC Bank

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Thursday, December 15, 2011

branch, or mailed to the Autumn and Justin Fund c/o Buckie Dowell, PO Box 12, Dowell, MD 20629. Arrangements by the Rausch Funeral Home, Lusby, www.rauschfuneralhomes.com.

Charles Henck, 77 Charles Walton Henck, 77, of Punta Gorda, FL, died Dec. 6, 2011 due to complications from a stroke.

He was born April 26, 1934 in Prince Frederick, MD, to Louis Augustus and Lillian Mae (Golden) Henck.

After graduating high school in 1952, Charles served in the Air Force for four years. Following his time in the service, Charles worked for the Naval Surface Weapons Center in Silver Spring, MD for 33 years. Charles married Lorraine Cox in 1956.

Upon retirement from the Weapons Center, he worked doing contract work for the Navy.

Charles and Lorraine moved to Florida in 1997, and while there he worked part time at many different retail stores. Over the years Charles enjoyed fishing, boating and camping.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Beatrice and a brother Edward.

Charles is survived by his wife, Lorraine, and their three sons, Charles W. Henck, Jr. and his wife Sherri of Chesapeake, VA, Karl G. Henck and his wife Debra of Katy, TX and Stephen L. Henck of Punta Gorda, FL. He is also survived by grandchildren, Caitlin, Austin, Ryan, Jonathan and Matthew. Henck.

Friends and family were received Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011, at Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., Owings, MD 20736, where services and a celebration of Charles life followed. Interment was at Southern Memorial Gardens, Dunkirk, MD. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be mad in Charles’s name to WGCU Public Media, 10501 FGCU Blvd, South, Fort Myers, FL 33965 or to a charity of one’s choice.

Arrangements by Rausch Funeral Home, Owings, MD, www.RauschFuneralHomes.com.

Jean Kline, 83 Jean Ruth Kline, 83, of Lothian died Dec. 3, 2011 at Anne Arundel Medical Center.

She was born September 8, 1928 in Orefield, PA to Mark A and Pauline (Bittner) Hamm.

Jean was a 1947 graduate of Slatington High School and was married to Wilson J. “Bill” Kline in Slatington, PA on January 15, 1949. Bill was a member of the United States Air Force and he and Jean traveled extensively. They resided in Texas, Illinois, New Jersey, Washington as well as in Japan four years. They settled in Lothian in 1978 after Bill’s retirement. Jean was a member of Cedar Grove United Methodist Church and the Chesapeake Rambler senior travel group. Jean enjoyed reading her Bible and did so faithfully every day.

She was preceded in death by her parents a Sister Betty Williams in 1996 and a daughter

14

Debra Lynn Overby in 2010.

Surviving are her husband Wilson J. “Bill” Kline, USAF Ret, daughters Susan J. Noll and her husband Henry of Manassas, Va., and Chris Pamela Bailey of Sophia, WV, six grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, a brother Sherwood P. Hamm and his wife Catherine of Liberty, NC and a sister Anna Mae Knight of Coplay, PA. Friends were received on Monday Dec. 12 at Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., 8325 Mt. Harmony Lane, Owings, MD 20736. Services and a celebration of Jean’s life was held Tuesday Dec. 13, at Cedar Grove United Methodist Church, 5965 Deale-Churchton Road, Deale, MD 20751. Interment followed at Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Cheltenham, MD. Memorial contributions may be made in Jean’s name to Cedar Grove U.M. Church, Homeless Ministry or Food Ministry, 753 Masons Beach Drive, Deale, MD 20751. Arrangements by Rausch Funeral Home, 8325 Mount Harmony Lane, Owings, MD, www.RauschFuneralHomes.com.

Sylvia Laurie, 69 Sylvia Pastora Ojeda Laurie, 69 of Owings, MD passed away at Calvert Memorial Hospital. Dec. 1, 2011.

She was born in Bronx, NY, on March 6, 1942 to Bernard Pastore and Mildred (Battle) Ojeda.

Sylvia spent her early life in NY and Florida before settling in the Bronx and Brooklyn, NY for late elementary school and beyond. She commuted from Brooklyn to The City College in Manhattan, part of the City University of NY, where she received a BA in Sociology, met her future husband, Dennis, also a student there, and many of her long-time friends. After graduation, she worked for the City of New York as a Social Worker, and later a Social Work Supervisor out of the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn.

She and Dennis Laurie, a teacher in the NYC School System, were married in the spring of 1969. Both continued working until the birth of their first child, Alison, in February of 1970. Sylvia then left Social Work to become a full-time mother and home-maker, though she worked as a Craft Director at a YMCA camp along with her husband in the summers.

Their second child, Kim, was born in June of 1972.

Never one to be idle, Sylvia was continuously involved in volunteer activities. As her children entered school, she took leadership in the Parents’ Associations of her children’s schools, and was a Sunday-School teacher at the Riverside Church. Always deeply religious, she, with some local friends, founded a Sunday-School in a local struggling Lutheran Church in northern Manhattan. She was instrumental in the revival of that church and its return to influence in the upper Manhattan neighborhood of Washington Heights/Inwood.

The family moved to Yonkers, NY, in 1977, and Sylvia immediately became involved with the 300 year old St. John’s Episcopal Church,Getty Square, in the Home-School association of the children’s new elementary school, and was instrumental in founding a new Girl Scout troop in north-west Yonkers.

She also founded a 4-H Sewing Club in north

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Thursday, December 15, 2011

Yonkers, and helped develop a Community Garden for youth along with Cornell University Cooperative Extension. In these areas Sylvia often took leadership roles – becoming Director of Girl Scout summer Day-Camps in Yonkers and nearby Eastchester, and, along with Dennis as business manager, Director of Camp Ludington, one of the resident camps of the Girl Scouts of Westchester*Putnam, for several years. She participated in a national panel of Girl Scout leaders which established the original criteria for the Girl Scout’s Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. At the same time, she also became President of the Home–School Association of Yonkers’ Gorton High School (of “Grease” fame,) which both of her daughters attended.

As Alison graduated and headed off to college, Sylvia re-thought some of her own life goals, and decided to head to school herself. On the basis of her long-time love of sewing and related textile crafts, she decided to commute to the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. There she earned an Associates Degree in Textile Development and Marketing, along the way discovering a new interest: product market development. This interest culminated in her leadership of a group of advertising majors to a first-ever school victory in an annual national marketing competition, To help with college expenses for both herself and the girls, Sylvia worked the next decade in New York’s Fashion District. After the family moved into their first house in Peekskill, NY, and Dennis had retired from teaching to join the staff of The New York Times, she continued to apply her expertise in retail. Still deeply interested in volunteer activities, Sylvia was instrumental in developing the Hudson Valley Chapter of the American Sewing Guild for which she served as President and as Editor of its Newsletter.

Dennis retired from the NY Times in 2004, and Sylvia from Jo-Ann’s in 2006. Daughter Alison, now with a career in DC, asked her mom and dad to join her, her husband Jason and their 4 girls in Calvert County. A move was planned for early 2007, but was interrupted when an infection in a sore in Sylvia’s ankle proved intransigent, and Sylvia lost her right leg in a below the knee amputation. The move, which also included youngest daughter Kim, was made in June, 2007, but again interrupted because of the persistence of that same infection - luckily handled in Maryland at AAMC, but resulting in an above the knee amputation of that same leg. The collapse of the housing market slowed sale of the Peekskill house, but in October of 2009, her family was able to move into their own home in Owings. Of course, in the interim, Sylvia had made certain to find a church in which she and the family could become involved – All Saints’ Episcopal in Sunderland. There she volunteered with the Episcopal Church Women, for a while publishing a newsletter for the ECW. She also worked in the Vacation Bible School, sewed for the Relay for Life and for some needed Altar vestments and helped with the organization and running of the annual Christmas Market. She always volunteered for the annual Wine & Arts Fest, running activities for children attending, and participated with the Thursday knitting/sewing group. Outside of the church community, she joined and was active with the Calvert County Quilt Guild. In all things she was firmly committed to the importance of passing along hand skills to a younger generation and to honoring and valuing the work of all hand crafters.

She is survived by her husband, Dennis Laurie; daughters, Kim Laurie and Alison K (Laurie) Fields and Alison’s family - husband Jason and four daughters, Hannah, Maya, Sara, and Teya – all of Owings; brothers, Bernard P. Ojeda, Jr. and Manuel Lee Ojeda of Brooklyn Park and Minneapolis, MN respectively.

The Calvert Gazette

At her request, she was cremated. A celebration of her life was held at Rausch Funeral Home, 8325 Mt. Harmony Lane, Owings, on Dec. 13, and a Memorial Service of Thanksgiving was held at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Sunderland, on Dec. 14.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to any of Sylvia’s favorite charities: Episcopal Church Women, c/o All Saints’ Episcopal, PO Box 40, Sunderland, MD 20689 or United Thank Offering (at the same address above) or Turnabout, Inc., PO Box 40, Owings, MD 20736.

Joyce Lloyd, 80 Joyce Marie Lloyd, 80, of Dowell, MD passed away on Dec. 10, 2011 at Calvert Memorial Hospital.

Joyce was born on August 31, 1931 in Waco, Texas; to the late Tom William Olson and Mary O. Oplie. She was married to the late Elmer David Lloyd.

She loved to travel around the world as a result of her late husband’s service to the armed forces, but most important to her was the time she spent with her older sister Alfredia and her grandchildren. Her life also centered around her children and their activities.

She is survived by her children, Richard D. Lloyd (Gale) of St. Leonard, MD and Linda Ann Schwartz of Passadena, MD. She is also survived by her grandchildren Steven and Kevin Schwartz of Columbia, MD; Marshall Betit of Norfolk, VA; and Kristin Betit of Baltimore, MD. She also leaves behind her big sister Alfredia Jackson of Dowell, MD. The family received friends on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011 at the Rausch Funeral Home, Port Republic. Interment will be private.

Contributions can be made in the memory of Joyce M. Lloyd to Solomons V.F.D & Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 189, Solomons, MD 20711.

Robert Schick, 75 Robert James Schick, 75, of Saint Leonard passed away on Dec. 5 2011. He was born March 11, 1936, in the Bronx, NY, to the late Joseph and Cecilia (Gajkowski) Schick.

Mr. Schick graduated from Manhattan Prep High School and at age 17 enlisted in the Navy during the Korean War. After an honorable discharge from the Navy, he enrolled at the University of Maryland and received a BS degree in 1964. He was a member of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity. In 1966, he graduated with a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Maryland School of Law. Mr. Schick was a founding partner in the Waldorf, MD, law firm of Andrews, Schick, Bongar and Starkey, where he practiced for over 25 years specializing in real estate law.

He was an active participant in land development partnerships in Charles County, including Clarks Run in La Plata.

He served on the Board of Directors of the Bank of Southern Maryland and the Charles County Nursing Home. He was also a past president of the Charles County Bar Association and was an associate member of the Southern Maryland Association of Realtors.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Michael Schick.

He is survived by three children, daughter Elizabeth S. Hicks and husband Thomas Hicks, of Saint Leonard; son Robert R. Schick and wife Joanna Klusak Schick, of Poznan, Poland; daughter Laura O. Schick, of Arlington, VA; two grandchildren, Robert J. Hicks and Madeleine E. Hicks of Saint Leonard; a sister, Barbara Schick Boyle of Albrightsville, PA; brother, Stephen Schick and wife Barbara of Fulton, MD, and several nieces and nephews.

He is also survived by his former wife, Olivia Schick Gentile, of Orkney Springs, VA. Family received friends Friday, Dec. 9, at Rausch Funeral Home, 4405 Broomes Island Rd. in Port Republic, MD. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 12 p.m. at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Port Tobacco, MD. Burial will be private.

Shirley Wesner, 55 Shirley Lynn Wesner, 55, of North Beach, MD passed away December 6, 2011 at her residence after a one-year illness.

Shirley was born November 30, 1956 to Etta Patricia (Whelan) and William Harrison Wesner at the Bolling Field Air Base Hospital in S.E. Washington, D.C. She was raised in Seat Pleasant, MD where she attended Carmody Elementary School until moving with her family to North Beach in 1967.

She attended Mt. Harmony Elementary, graduated from Calvert High School, class of 1974, and attended Prince George’s Community College and graduated from Bowie State College with a Bachelors Degree in Education in 1978.

She was a dedicated fourth grade teacher at Beach Elementary and later at Plum Point Elementary, retiring due to her illness October 1, 2011 after 32 years of dedicated teaching. Since the age of twelve, Shirley was a member of Union Church in North Beach where she sang in the church choir and served as Treasurer for many years. In her leisure time Shirley enjoyed spending time with her friends and family, especially her many nieces and nephews. She enjoyed watching television, and was especially fond of “I Love Lucy.”

Shirley was preceded in death by her father William H. Wesner, Sr., her stepfather Charley Miller, and by a brother William H. “Billy” Wesner, Sr. She is survived by her mother Etta Patricia “Pat” Miller with whom she lived, sisters Debbie Gingell and husband Bill of Wachaprague, VA, Mary E. Willis and husband “JR” of Chesapeake Beach, MD, and Ellen Larrimore and husband Steve of Prince Frederick, MD, a step-brother George Miller of North Beach, numerous nieces and nephews, and by her best friend since childhood, Nadine Garrett.

Friends and family were received on Friday, Dec. 9, at Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., 8325 Mt. Harmony Lane, Owings, MD, where funeral services and a celebration of Shirley’s life was held Saturday Dec. 10. Interment followed at Southern Memorial Gardens in Dunkirk, MD. Expressions of sympathy in Shirley’s name may be made to Calvert Hospice, P.O. Box 838, Prince Frederick, MD 20678 or online at www. calverthospice.org. Arrangements by Rausch Funeral Home, 8325 Mount Harmony Lane, Owings, MD, RauschFuneralHomes.com.

Scott Woolverton, 48 Scott Andrew Woolverton, 48, of Lusby, MD formally of Big Spring, TX passed away suddenly on Dec. 7, 2011 at St. Mary’s Hospital, L e o n a r d t ow n , MD. Scott was born on September 16, 1963 in Big Spring, TX to the late Raymond James and Mary Lou Cha-

gnon Woolverton.

Scott was employed as the Parts Manager for Fitzgerald Auto Mall of Lexington Park, MD. Scott loved the Indianapolis Colts, Star Wars and the Moody Blues, reading, science fiction the internet and computers. Scott enjoyed playing Canasta in his free time and spending quality time with close friends and family. Scott had a favorite quote: “I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to my death your right to say it.” – Voltaire.

He is survived by his loving wife Nancy Lee Woolverton; his beloved daughter Andrea Lee Woolverton of Columbus, OH; stepdaughter Mary Elizabeth Porras of Gulfport, MS; step-son Frank Rene Porras of El Paso, TX; sisters, Micki Maddux and her husband Fred, Irene Weimer and her husband Jerry and Jessica Greenwood and her husband Cory; brothers, Ed Woolverton and his wife Naomi, Jim Woolverton and his wife Kathy and Tom Woolverton and his wife Diane. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews and his boys Thor and Loki.

The family received friends at the Rausch Funeral Home, P. A., 20 American Lane, Lusby, MD on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 10 a.m. until the time of the service celebrating Scotts life at 11:30 AM. Interment will be private.

Should friends desire contributions may be made in Scott’s memory to St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105, www.stjude.org.

To Place a Memorial, Please Call 301-373-4125

The Calvert Gazette

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INTERVIEW KN OT LONG MAN

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1. Abu __, U.A.E. capital 6. Herring-like fishes 11. 55120 MN 12. Indigo bush 13. Pollyanna-ish 15. Pleasing to the ear 18. Parcels of land 19. Microns (alt. sp.)

20. Cooking containers 21. Express pleasure 24. Meat from a calf (alt.)

25. 7th Greek letter 26. Operated the sales register 30. Blueprint for the day 32. Congressperson (abbr.)

33. Angle (abbr.)

35. Fragrant health promotion 43. Trespasses 44. ___ Lanka 45. Wife of Hercules 47. A large body of water 48. Chicken house 49. Sicilian volcano 51. Coarse edible red seaweed

Thursday, December 15, 2011

52. __ May, actress 54. Opposites of credits 55. Unable to move 57. Someone who is highly skilled 58. 100 = 1 kwacha 59. “Rocky” star Talia

CLUES DOWN

1. Having a sophisticated charm 2. Minute amounts (Scot.)

3. Turkish leader’s title 4. Used for hitting the ball in various games 5. Not out 6. South Dakota 7. Possessed 8. Grad 9. UPS driver 10. Fired 13. In a way, augmented 14. River in SE S. Am. 16. Division of geological time 17. Follows sigma

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21. Sign language 22. Expression of surprise 23. Hull Identification Number 26. Salmwood 27. Associated Press 28. Half of an em 29. Networks in Spanish 31. Dough fermenting agent 34. Auto fuel 36. An alternative 37. Manuscripts (abbr.)

38. Digested 39. Darjeeling or green 40. Horsepower 41. 1985 Formula 1 champion 42. Expression of alarm 43. Gain possession 45. Own (Scottish) 46. Snake-like fish 48. Dicer 50. Afresh 51. Hindu mother goddess 53. Before 54. Code for dash 56. Atomic #52 57. Millisecond

Last Week’s Puzzle Solutions

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Thursday, December 15, 2011

Debra Meszaros

is a Certified Sports Nutritionist and Biofeedback practitioner with further educational studies in Naturopathy, H o m e o p a t h y, Or thomolecular Nutrition and additionally holds fourteen U.S. patents. Through her extensive health education, and experience of 20-plus years in cellular biology, she has developed an all-encompassing Holistic health service that allows individuals to discover their biochemical uniqueness, allowing them to fine tune their health. The basis of her service is to facilitate access to information that will help your understanding of health processes and elements that are within your area of control. Her services are available in Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina. She can be reached at (540) 622 – 4989 Monday through Friday.

By Debra Meszaros CSN Do you currently take a calcium supplement?

Have you been diagnosed with bone loss?

How are you doing with the rebuilding of your bone?

Is calcium really the answer?

After decades of focusing on calcium supplementation, experts may finally be acknowledging the fact that synergy plays the largest role in bone building • We need to understand all the components that actually get calcium into the bone.

The Calvert Gazette

All About Bones • We need to realize that bone is made up of more than just calcium.

• We need to comprehend the importance of elemental balances.

One of the largest, undiagnosed, and ignored components to bone building is thyroid and parathyroid function. It is the hormone, thyrocalcitonin released from the thyroid that places calcium into the bone and it is the parathyroid that takes calcium out of the bone. Hypothyroid function (under functioning of the thyroid) limits the amount of thyrocalcitonin released and hinders this process.

The balance of blood calcium and bone calcium is also controlled by the hypothalamic and parathyroid glands (four of which rest on the thyroid gland’s lobes). If the parathyroid gland senses blood calcium is low, it will release hormones to remove calcium from the bone to place it into the blood. Blood calcium is a priority to the body over bone calcium. When calcium is high in the blood, the parathyroid will instruct the thyroid to release thyrocalcitonin, to put calcium into the bone. Utilizing blood work to monitor calcium levels is a one-dimensional look at the “real” calcium levels in the body.

Additionally, any dysfunction within the hormonal system (especially hypothalamus, thyroid and parathyroid) can cause an inadequate balance of female and male hormones and therefore contribute to bone loss. The body uses estrogen to build bone.

Another area of importance is proper liver function. Low levels of fat digesting enzymes (Lipase) will hinder the body’s ability to absorb fat soluble nutrients like vitamin D. The intestinal area must also be in top operating order for Vitamin D to be absorbed. Vitamin D, acting as a hormone, is another building block for bone.

Vitamin D manufactured by your body via skin exposure to the sun, relies on the liver and kidneys to convert it to an active form.

There is also a role that Probiotics play that is rarely mentioned in bone building research;

the realization that our bodies can make Vitamin K via probiotics, so adequate probiotic (intestinal flora balance) aids the body in building bone.

With the widespread increase in intestinal dysfunctions, anti-biotic use, and stress levels, many people have an imbalance in bowel flora and therefore deficient in vitamin K. It is Vitamin K that promotes the development of osteoblasts, which are your bone forming cells.

Of all the synergistic components, it is calcium’s co-partner magnesium that gets overlooked the most. Research has indicated that over 80% of Americans are actually magnesium deficient. The recommended balance of calcium to magnesium stands at 2:1 but does not consider dietary intakes of these nutrients nor lifestyle habits that indirectly affect calcium levels. Due to these factors, supplementing at a 2:1 ratio may not be effective since a 2:1 ratio is not really being maintained. It is magnesium that keeps calcium liquid, hindering the calcification process that can lead to kidney stone formation. Some recent research shows the possibility that too much calcium supplementation in a magnesium deficient individual, may actually suppress bone formation.

Certain individuals like Asthma sufferers that utilize albuterol (inhalers), should take note that albuterol lowers the body’s potassium levels and potassium is a bone building co-partner for density. Potassium is rich in bananas, oranges, and beans therefore making them good dietary additions.

There are other dietary items and habits that can hinder bone formation, excessive alcohol consumption, carbonated soft drinks, diets with higher ratios of grains, red meat, and sugar vs. fruits and vegetables will all tip the PH scale to the acidic side, thus leading to a likelihood of mineral depletion and/or deficiency.

The other side of bone building is the formation of flexible bones, collagen, which relies on the activity of enzymes, amino acids, vita-

Where Do All The Old Glasses Go?

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer Tens of thousands of used eyeglasses sit in storage waiting to be shipped to countries like Ecuador, Togo, Kenya, and Romania. The major obstacle standing between the eyewear and those who need them is volunteers to process them.

Susan Matthews, who runs Lions District 22-C Eyeglass Recycling Center at Melwood in Upper Marlboro, has 2,000 to 3,000 donated eyeglasses in her van and the same amount in storage at home. This doesn’t include what is stored inside the small workspace Melwood has given them to store, sort, clean, process and categorize before shipping them to the regional recycling center in Virginia.

Matthews said Northern Calvert Lions Club is one of her most consistent and dependable groups of volunteers. The second Thursday in December, Jim and Dawn Daniels, Lea Therrien and Juanita Cornett spent three hours working and managed to process 150 pairs of glasses that will be sent to Virginia.

People can drop their used glasses in boxes distributed throughout the county at supermarkets and other stores. Lions Club members collect them and bring them to the facility where they are initially sorted. Quality controllers pull out scratched lenses, broken or marred frames, non-prescription and unusual prescriptions. None of these can be used in the program; however, it does not mean they have no value. Matthew gives the clear glass to theater groups and pulls out frames with precious metals to take to a recycler. The money she receives from the metals goes back into paying the expenses of running the regional office. All the rest of the glasses which don’t meet their standards are donated to ‘Feed the Children.’

Everything is donated to her satellite office except the expense for the soap, bleach and vinegar for cleaning the glasses.

A military gym donates the drying towels they can’t keep when stained or unraveling. The plastic bags to individually

min C, iron, copper, silicon and the amino acid Lysine. Individuals with celiac, sprue, cystic fibrosis, malabsorption syndromes, excess iron or zinc levels, and people who have undergone gastric bypass surgery can be deficient in copper.

So the building and maintaining of healthy bones really goes far beyond calcium supplementation. We must consider proper balances of all the synergistic components involved together with ones lifestyle habits and any dysfunctions or conditions that may exist in the body.

When we look at this issue from a holistic prospective, we may finally win the battle against Osteoporosis.

Disclaimer: When you read through the diet and lifestyle information, you must know that everything within it is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. I am making no attempt to prescribe any medical treatment. You should not use the information here for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. The products and the claims made about specific products have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. Confirm the safety of any supplements with your M.D., N.D. or pharmacist (healthcare professional). Some information given is solely an opinion, thought and or conclusion based on experiences, trials, tests, assessments or other available sources of information. I do not make any guarantees or promises with regard to results. I may discuss substances that have not been subject to double blind clinical studies or FDA approval or regulation. You assume the responsibility for the decision to take any natural remedy.

You and only you are responsible if you choose to do anything with the information you have read. You do so at your own risk. Use your intelligence to make the decisions that are right for you. Consulting a naturopathic doctor is strongly advised especially if you have any existing disease or condition.

Newsmakers

pack the usable eyeglasses are also donated. release.

“I pay my help in cookies. I have to keep them happy,” According to Matthews if there is an interest, she can said Matthews who works at the center every Tuesday and find a job for volunteers. For example doctor’s offices and Thursday whether she has volunteers or not. Currently she has national chains will donate unsold reading glasses which are a number of days open for individuals, organizations or groups already marked with the prescription strength. Even students to come in. Due to the space, she can’t handle more than five to can transfer the information over to a Lion’s eyeglass bag and eight volunteers at a time. insert the glasses.

She needs people to sort, wash, dry and calibrate the To volunteer: contact Lion Susan Matthews at lionglasses. She has three eyeglass prescription reading machines. susan612@aol.com.

Learning to read the machines and knowing all the exceptions to the rules is the hardest part of the job, according to Dawn corrin@somdpublishing.net Daniels, who spent her three hours on the machine. She said it took about two days of volunteering to become proficient. Now she and Therrien can walk in and get to work. Matthews said they are two of her most experienced calibrators.

Matthews bemoans the loss of her Air Force eye doctor who crossed the street from Andrews Air Force Base with some of his doctor friends to calibrate glasses. “They were good because they do it for a living.” When he got reassigned to Germany, his friends stopped coming to help.

During the first quarter of the Lion’s fiscal year, July 1 through June 30, the satellite center collected 6,352 glasses and processed 1,564. It took 192 volunteer hours.

Matthews said the Virginia Center is also having a difficult time keeping enough volunteers to process all the glasses they receive. However, the local sheriff did suggest a partnership between the recycling center and Northern Calvert Lion’s Club President or “King Lion” Lea Therrien, left, and Dawn Daniels calibrate his Women’s Detention Center work used eyeglasses to be sent overseas to people who need them.

The Calvert Gazette

Fur and Feathers Deer, Pigs and Emu

By Keith McGuire The deer firearms season ended last Saturday. The late muzzleloader season for deer begins on Saturday, December 17th. The interim finds everyone doing different things, including a little hunting for ducks and Canada goose, or squirrels and rabbits. Maybe you are busy preparing venison stew, Chili, jerky, and roasts from the deer you’ve harvested already. Or, you might actually be at work contemplating how you will find the time to finish your Christmas shopping!

On the other hand, this week might be spent cooking sausage from the feral hog that you killed in the woods like a certain deer hunter did near Leonardtown on December 2nd. Apparently, there have been a few feral pigs shot in the county during the deer firearms season. I found this one in the chill locker at Stauffer’s Custom Deer Processing in Loveville with a bullet hole in its carcass from a well placed shot from a 20 gauge deer gun.

Rumors abound this week of an emu on the loose over near the county line between Chaptico and Allen’s Fresh. It could be that this week will find you out there looking for one of these elusive, flightless birds to provide a different sort of Christmas dinner for your family.

According to my sources, the runaway emu was seen running against traffic near the shoulder of Rte 234, like it had just left the race track at Budd’s Creek. It seemed totally oblivious to the traffic and hit a top speed of about 35 mph! No pictures were provided.

I like to do a little scouting in the deer woods during this week. After weeks of leaving most areas undisturbed during the previous deer seasons by going straight to the stand on the way in and straight to the truck on the way out, deer activity in more remote parts of the woods has been missed. I usually grab the .22 and ease into the unvisited parts of the woods just to see what’s been going on. Why the .22, you ask? Well, it is still hunting season, and I may as well look for a few squirrels during these investigative visits. After all, squirrels are fun to shoot, and their meat makes a fairly nice stew for hardy lunches later on. Besides, with feral pigs and emu on the loose, I don’t want to take any chances. I have no idea how mean they may be, but I’m certain that my squirrel rifle can at least level the playing field.

In my younger days, I found this interlude in the deer seasons to be the perfect time to stomp around the field edges for rabbits. But, my 62 years haven’t left me with the energy required for that level of activity (despite what my doctor says!). It sure was fun, though, and nothing makes a meal quite as good as a couple of cotton tails.

As we prepare for the muzzleloader season, remember to wear florescent orange and dress warm. It is among the coldest of the deer seasons for us and doesn’t finish until New Year’s Eve. There are no more Sunday hunting days left in the season, so deer hunting on Christmas Day is out of the question. (It’s out of the question in my house regardless of which day of the week it falls on.) I wonder if I would be allowed to hunt feral pigs or emu on Christmas Day? I’ll have to ask …

If you have a particularly interesting hunting story and a picture, please drop me a line at riverdancekeith@gmail.com.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

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The Calvert Gazette is always looking for more local talent to feature! To submit art or band information for our entertainment section, e-mail sarahmiller@countytimes.net.

Shine-on Southern Maryland

By Carrie Munn Staff Writer Two Southern Maryland destinations draw thousands of visitors looking for the biggest and brightest holiday light displays around. While businesses and homeowners give it their “Griswald-best,” it’s hard to top these local holiday hot-spots.

Flat Iron Farm Christmas

(45840 Highway to Heaven Lane, Great Mills) St. Mary’s County farm owner Joseph “Bubby” Knott, said he’s been putting on his Christmas humdinger for longer than he could exactly remember. For about two decades, the Farm has hosted thousands of visitors, eager to catch an over-the-top light show and visit Flat Iron’s Christmas village.

Many locals say it’s become an annual tradition to take the kids out to see Knott’s incredible and eclectic antique collections, visit the Candy Cane House, pet the farm animals, ride ponies and stop for a snapshot with Santa Claus. With multiple gift shops throughout the twinkling Christmas village, shoppers can find homemade crafts, candies, unique ornaments and décor.

Admission is free and Knott said all are welcome to see what he and the farm staff have created through Dec. 31. The drive-through light show is open every night from 5 to 9 p.m. and the other attractions are available Thursday and Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 9.

Garden in Lights

(13480 Dowell Road, Solomons)

Upon entering the glittering, shimmering pathway of Garden in Lights, a vistor hears an “ooh,” a “wow” and an “awesome.”

Those comments come not only from the children excited by the themed, light sculptures, but from the adults as well.

With colorfully-lit scenes like “Ocean Odyssey,” “Prehistoric Planet” and “Aviation Celebration,” this walking tour is full of one-of-a-kind designs created by Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center staff. Visitors can warm up in the Arts Building while checking out the “Toys: Re-invent, Re-Imagine, Re-Discover” exhibit, the Ornament Show and Sale, Dream Weaver’s Holiday Café and nightly entertainment.

Admission is $5, and free for Annmarie members and children 4 and under. The event is ongoing through New Year’s Day from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 6 to 8 on Sunday each evening, weather permitting. Annmarie will be closed Dec. 24 and 25.

Special events like the military discount, golf cart tours and pet nights are coming up. For a detailed listing of special events and schedued entertainment, visit www.annmariegarden. org/annmarie2/content/garden-lights. carriemunn@countytimes.net

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Thursday, December 15, 2011

• Tens of thousands of holiday lights twinkle in Chesapeake Beach to make it the Brightest Beacon on the Bay. Take the family and ride through Chesapeake Beach to enjoy holiday lights displayed until the week after the New Year. (www.chesapeake-beach. md.us) • Make a stop at Tan’s Cycles to visit their free Holiday Train Garden. The train garden is on a 20’ X 20’ platform with five levels, 30 trains, seven super streets, a carnival, waterfall, construction site, disappearing trains, tunnels, bridges and much more. The Holiday Train Display begins November 25 and runs through January 14, weekdays 3 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays noon to 5 p.m.; special times on Dec. 24 and 31 (noon to 5 p.m.) and Dec. 27 thru 30 (noon to 8 p.m.). Tans is at 9032 Chesapeake Avenue, North Beach. For more information, call 410-257-6619.

• Surround yourself with one-ofa-kind, handmade creations at Annmarie Garden’s annual Garden in Lights.

Mythical creatures, spectacular wild animals, illuminated works of art, hidden beasts, romantic dancers and more will delight all ages. Don’t forget to ask for a “holiday I spy” program.

After your walk, enjoy a hot drink, entertainment, the Ornament Show and the Celebrations Glass Exhibit in the Arts Building. Garden in Lights runs through January 1, 2012. Check the website for more information: www. annmariegarden.org.

• Enjoy PEM Talks at the Calvert Marine Museum with thoughtful discourse on paleontology, the environment and maritime history, the three themes covered by the museum’s exhibits. The 2011-2012 PEM Talks focus on Lost Landmarks and the “bones” of the past hidden around us. Learn to look with new eyes at places you pass every day and understand how the past informs our lives today. Thursday, December 15, features Laura Trieschmann discussing how the country store played a major role as both a commercial and

The Calvert Gazette

social center. The talks begin at 7 p.m. in the museum auditorium and are free.

For more information about the 20112012 PEM Talks Series, visit the website at www.calvertmarinemuseum. com.

• Dunkirk Baptist Church will host our annual Christmas Shoppe Elf Xtravaganza for the needy from 9 a.m.12 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17. Please Call Dave Walton to register, volunteer or make donations: 301-775-6241

• Dunkirk Baptist Church invites you to join us at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 18 for our Christmas Cantata Worship Service. For more information call: 301-855-3555 or click: www. dunkirkbaptistchurch.org

• The Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum invites you to share in a holiday tradition as their “conductors” read a classic children’s Christmas story, “The Polar Express,” on Thursday, December 22, at 6 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.

After each reading there will be a tour of Chesapeake Beach on the Holiday Trolley. Space is limited and reservations are required. Learn more about this event at www.cbrm.org or call the museum at 410-257-3892. You may reserve your space online at http://www. planetreg.com/E101111521898.

Out&About

of the Drum Point Lighthouse and learn what life was like for children stationed at the lighthouse with their families.

Check the Calvert Marine Museum website, www.calvertmarinemuseum. com, for complete listings and registration information. All programs are free with museum admission.

• Start off your New Year with an invigorating swim in the Chesapeake Bay! Join the crowd at North Beach as they run across the beach into the chilly waters for the annual Polar Bear Plunge. After, everyone will warm up beside a large beach bonfire and enjoy a hot drink. It is great fun for all ages – both to participate and to watch! The fun starts at 1 p.m. at the beach located at the intersection of 5th Street and Bay Avenue. (www.ci.north-beach.md.us)

Thursday, Dec. 15

Live Music: “No Green JellyBeenz” Acoustic Olde Town Pub (22785 Washington Street, Leonardtown) – 7 p.m.

Live Music: “The Piranhas” Toot’s Bar (23971 Mervell Dean Road, Hollywood) – 8 p.m.

Live Music: “HydraFX Duo” Casey Jones Pub (417 E. Charles St., La Plata) – 9:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 16

Live Music: “John Previti Trio” The Westlawn Inn (9200 Chesapeake Avenue, North Beach) – 7:30 p.m.

First Annual Winter Concert Festival Southern Maryland HigherEducation Center (44219 Airport Rd., California) – 6 p.m.

Live Music: “Matt Garrett” Ruddy Duck Brewery (13200 Dowell Road, Dowell) – 7 p.m.

Live Music: “Dime Stone Profit Band” Vera’s White Sands Beach Club (1200 White Sands Drive, Lusby) – 9 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 17

Live Music: “Sam Grow Band” Vera’s White Sands Beach Club (1200 White Sands Drive, Lusby) – 9:30 p.m.

Live Music: “Creole Gumbo Jazz band” The Westlawn Inn (9200 Chesapeake Avenue, North Beach) – 7:30

• SMILE, INC. invites you to a Christmas Dinner from 11:30 am 2:30 pm on Christmas Day to be held at the Arick L. Lore Post 274 American Legion in Lusby. Santa Claus and his helpers will be there with toys for the children and it is fun for all. Christmas Dinner at the American Legion Hall has become a tradition. SMILE gathers volunteers to prepare and serve the dinner. Santa Claus, though weary from the previous evening’s deliveries also volunteers his time and arrives with a bag full of gifts. Some of our guests find such a meal beyond their means, others are alone and enjoy the company and still others simply do not care to cook.

• Looking for things to do with the family during the holidays? The Calvert Marine Museum offers programs throughout the school holiday. Each day from December 26 through December 30 you can discover interesting facts about sea life. Did you know horseshoe crabs have been around since dinosaurs? What good are jellyfish? On Friday, December 30, visit the Discovery Room for a hands-on lesson about the different kinds of turtles that can be found in our area. On Monday, January 2, kids can take special tours

• Is your New Year’s resolution going to be “Get a new job”? If so, you may want to register for the resume and cover letter workshops offered at Calvert Library Prince Frederick. Beginning Jan. 3, library volunteer and job counselor Sandra Holler will host small group workshops from 10 a.m. to noon two Tuesdays a month, usually the first and third Tuesday. Participants will learn what makes a strong resume and cover letter and will get individualized help. If you already have a resume started, bring it with you so editing can happen on the spot. Registration is required and can be done through the library website at calvert.lib.md.us or by calling 410-535-0291. For more information, call Robyn Truslow at 410-5350291 or 301-855-1862.

• It is that time of year again! The Annual Giant Gently Used Book Sale hosted by Friends of Calvert Library will begin with a members-only preview night on Thursday, Jan. 12 from 5-8pm. You can join at the door with $10 for an individual and $15 for a family membership. The sale opens to the public on Friday, Jan. 13 from noon to 4pm and will also be held on Saturday, January 14 from 9am-3pm. The event is in the meeting rooms at the Calvert Library Prince Frederick and there will be thousands of books in good to excellent condition.

Live Music: “Four Friends” Ruddy Duck Brewery (13200 Dowell Road, Dowell) – 8 p.m.

Live Music: “The Wanderers” Cryer’s Back Road Inn (22094 Newtowne Neck Road, Leonardtown) – 8 p.m.

Live Music: “Toma Lagana & Darden Purcell” Back Creek Bistro (14415 Dowell Road, Dowell) – 7 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 18

Special Sunday Christmas Show feat. “Gretchen Richie” Cafe Des Artistes (41655 Fenwick Street, Leonardtown) – 5 p.m.

Live Music: “ Sam Grow Band” Acoustic Rustic River Bar and Grill (40874 Merchants Lane, Leonardtown) – 8 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 19

Open Mic Night Rustic River Bar and Grill (40874 Merchants Lane, Leonardtown) - 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 20

Open Mic Night Ruddy Duck Brewery (13200 Dowell Road, Dowell) – 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 21

Comedy Night Rustic River Bar and Grill (40874 Merchants Lane, Leonardtown) – 7 p.m.

Live Music: “Steve Chapin Band” College of Southern Maryland Fine Arts Center (8730 Mitchell Rd., LaPlata) – 8 p.m.

MHBR No. 103