2012-01-05 Calvert Gazette

January 5, 2012

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Everything Calvert County

V T n o Local ’ s r a W e 8 k e a g c a p P u in ‘C Photo By Sarah Miller

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, January 5, 2012

On T he Cover

Also Inside

3 County News 5 Business 6 Community 7 Education Feature Story 8 9 Letters 10 Obits 12 Games 13 Newsmakers 13 Health 14 Entertainment 15 Sports

2

Cindy Selby, owner of Blondie’s Baking Company in North Beach, appeared on the Food Network TV show “Cupcake Wars” on New Year’s Day.

education

Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Rick Cox takes Mount Harmony Elementary School students into the SWAT vehicle during the school’s career day.

out & about entertainment

They may not be starving artists, but the Twin Beach Players troupe is homeless, a fact the group is working to remedy by raising money for a Twin Beach Arts Center.

FOR EVENTS HAPPENING IN YOUR AREA, CHECK PAGE 14 IN OUT AND ABOUT

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Thursday, January 5, 2012

COUNTY NEWS

The Calvert Gazette

Gay Marriage, Tax Hikes to Dominate Legislative Session

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer The fast approaching 2012 legislative session in Annapolis should prove fraught with social issues to be debated.

“There’s a renewed push to legalize same sex marriage,” according to Todd Eberly, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Public Policy at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Eberly said Governor Martin O’Malley wants to be U.S. president someday, and he anticipates the governor will follow trends set in New York, and push to legalize same sex marriage.

Tax hikes might also be on the horizon.

In St. Mary’s and Calvert counties, Eberly said bills involving same sex marriage and tax increases are likely to see opposition from local representatives Sen. Roy Dyson and delegates John Bohanan, John Wood and Tony O’Donnell.

Along with the hot button issues, Eberly said there is a “wild card” coming up during the legislative and election season – a citizens’ petition to vote on the Maryland Dream Act.

The Dream Act gave illegal immigrants a shot at a college education for the lowest possible tuition. Eberly said citizens have petitioned to put it on the ballot to vote on, and that could lead to the act’s reversal.

Maryland Senate President Mike Miller echoed Eberly’s belief that same sex marriage will be an issue during the session. Miller also added capitol punishment to the hot button list.

Miller said he intends to take a stand against same sex marriage. The last time same sex marriage was brought up, it passed in the senate in a vote of 25-22, then died in the house, where all Southern Maryland delegates voted against it. He said he anticipates the vote being just as close this session.

Delegate O’Donnell (R-29C) said he sees the same sex marriage issue being bigger this year than it was last year, especially with O’Malley intending to take a stronger stand to promote the issue rather than stay on the sidelines as he did last year.

He also said Republicans will “never forgive” a tax increase; even if it is used for much needed projects, such as a replacement for the Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge.

Board of Ed Takes Stance on Legislative Issues

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer

Delegate Wood (D-29A) said increasing taxes, while occasionally necessary, should not be the answer every year. Part of the problem comes when the state uses monies that were earmarked for other purposes to balance the budget.

In the case of the transportation funds being funneled to the general fund, this has led to roads being in disrepair, and other potential safety hazards, Wood said.

“That’s wrong and we’re paying for it,” Wood said.

Aside from social issues that come up during the legislative session, passing the budget is always the top priority. Balancing the budget is “one of the few things that we have to do,” Wood said. The budget takes precedent over the 2,500 to 2,800 bills that come before the legislators.

O’Donnell sees balancing the budget being a big challenge, especially in the face of a

billion-dollar deficit. Like Wood, he said increasing taxes is not the only answer. As important as having the money is, decreasing state spending is also necessary.

Sen. Dyson (D-29) said tax increases would hurt rural areas more than urban, a fact he said will “see tension grow between rural and urban legislation.” He said he is opposed to the tax increases like the flush tax or gas tax.

With 87 percent of the budget dedicated to education, law enforcement and health care, there is only 13 percent to be divvied amongst the rest of the groups vying for finding. Wood said it is important to make sure the funding gets distributed fairly and evenly. There is no one sector that should be cut balance the budget. Instead, everyone should be taking a little bit of a hit to spread the impact.

“There can’t be a sacred cow,” Wood said. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

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with your smart phone Calvert County Board of Education recently came out with its stance on issues for the 2012 legislative session, with the district opposed to using daily attendance instead of enrollment in state formulas; including home-schooled children in extracurricular activities; and, moving the Accepting: burden of funding teacher pensions to the local level.

99 Smallwood Dr. Waldorf, MD • 206 Washignton Ave. LaPlata, MD Calvert County Public Schools (CCPS) Superintendent Jack Smith said the board based its SERVING CHARLES • ST. MARY’S • PG • CALVERT (301) 932-7700 (301) 870-7111 stance on past legislation, the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE)’s legislative positions and the known needs of the school system.

During the session, Smith said he and members of the board go to Annapolis and testify before the legislature on behalf of the school district.

Smith said the same issues typically come up year after year, and he doesn’t expect any brand new issues to pop out of the woodwork this session.

The push to shift teacher pension costs should be a big issue during the session, Smith said. The CCPS legislative position states the shift could lead to further budgetary problems for the districts.

As a whole, the district opposes anything that would be a “one size fits all” change or that compromises the autonomy of the individual school districts, Smith said.

Such overarching changes include school disciGary Simpson pline. CCPS opposes the state adopting a state-wide Matt Laidley code of discipline; mandated penalties for certain infractions; and, what disciplinary actions need to be reKatie Facchina corded on a student’s permanent record.

7480 Crain Highway Issues like the inclusion of home schooled children La Plata, MD 20646 in extracurricular activities is something Smith has 301-934-8437 seen become mandatory in other states, and the district opposes it because of the insurance issues it would April Hancock create. The school doesn’t have access to the records PO Box 407 An Independent Agent Representing: ERIE INSURANCE GROUP of home-schooled students, and therefore the school Standing: Dan Burris, Jake Kuntz, Seated: Lisa Squires, Bryans Road, MD 20616 doesn’t know if there are existing health concerns that Susan Ennis, Donna Burris 301-743-9000 should be documented, he said.

The full legislative document can be found at www.calvertnet.k12.md.us.

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COUNTY NEWS

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, January 5, 2012

4

North Beach Hosts Polar Bear Plunge

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer

Photos By Sarah Miller

What better way to celebrate the New Year than to strip down to a bathing suit and run into the waters of the Chesapeake Bay with hundreds of other people?

That’s exactly what residents of North Beach and Chesapeake Beach did Sunday morning during the annual Polar Bear Plunge. For some, like Scott VonBerg, and Tom Rodilosso, taking the plunge is a yearly tradition to ring in the New Year.

“I try to drag along as many people as I can with me,” VonBerg said before going into the water for the fourth year.

Rodilosso said he has been doing the Polar Bear Plunge for the past 10 years and he uses it as a gauge for how the year

is going to be – if he goes in and makes it out alive, healthy and without hypothermia, it’s going to be a good year.

For others, this was the first year taking the plunge. Donnie Bowen, Jr., said he only came out due to peer pressure.

“I lost a bet last night (New Year’s Eve) so I got dragged down here,” Bowen said.

Lenoir Green took the plunge for more wholesome reasons – she wanted to start the New Year by taking a risk and having an adventure.

The Polar Bear Plunge is free of charge, and participants have to sign a waiver before diving in. Each participant gets a free tee shirt and all the hot chocolate and cider they can drink. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

Cliff Advisory Committee Weighing Action Plans

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer The Cliff Stabilization Advisory Committee is coming into its second year in exis-

erosion become more streamlined. Currently, in order to do remediation work the homeowners must apply for permits from different groups from the local to the state levels. As a result, documents can get lost or misplaced, delaying the process.

Cliff stabilization committee members discussed streamlining the process in various ways, as well as Businesses adding a deadline by which the documents have to be reviewed to avoid long delays.

“When you can take a branch out of the decision tree, it’s a good thing,” said committee member Virginia Haskell during the committee’s Dec. 20 meeting.

They also discussed getting model documents together, showing homeowners how applications should be filled out and other pertinent information.

The committee also talked about the cost of the permits, especially

tence and the group continuing to craft recommendations to send to the Calvert County Board of Commissioners.

Cliff homeowners want to see the process for saving their homes and preventing

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when added to the fees for simply filing the paperwork. By the time they have gotten all the permits necessary, a fix that could be cheap becomes expensive.

The committee also discussed what information real estate agents are required to tell homeowners looking at cliff side properties. For some committee members, the realtor didn’t tell them about the issues with erosion. While the neglect could be due to lack of knowledge as easily as it could be willful to make the sale, but the committee members discussed having information guides to give to new cliff side owners.

The guides could inform them about the hazards and difficulties included in erosion, as well as information to owning property in the critical area.

The next meeting of the committee will be at 6 p.m. at the courthouse square building in Prince Frederick on Jan. 17. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

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Thursday, January 5, 2012

The Calvert Gazette

COUNTY NEWS

Bully Bling Teams Up With County Working on Pro Racer

Instructional Videos

Professional AMA Supercross/ Motocross rider Eric McKay and Bully Bling Energy Drink, announced this week a new partnership for the 2012 East Coast racing

By Sarah Miller series.

Staff Writer McKay, who’s home Motocross park is Budd’s Creek in St. Mary’s With the prominence of visual media websites such as YouCounty, will be participating in a Tube, Calvert County is trying to reach the general population in series of races in 2012 that only few new ways by creating instructional videos for the planning process. can even dream of racing in, includMark Volland, Calvert County public information specialist, ing eight East Coast Supercross said the county is on the first step in the process, and starting with rounds in Atlanta, Daytona, Fla., Inthe New Year, the county will be working on what topics they want dianapolis, St. Louis, Toronto, New to make videos about. He said they will likely start with one project Orleans and twice in Texas. and “see how folks take to it” before making more videos on other Bully Bling Energy Drink is topics. a locally owned company with its He said the idea is one the county has been tossing around for a headquarters in Calvert County and while. Based on feedback from county residents about how confusa satellite HQ in St. Petersburg, Fla. ing the planning and zoning and permitting possesses can be, he The company launched more than a said there is definitely interest in the videos. year ago making custom bulldog colOther municipalities across the state have similar programs, lars and transformed into an energy drink company, with and Volland said he has been watching those videos to get ideas of products for sale in 400 locations and growing nationally, what Calvert wants to do and doesn’t want to do. including over 120 locations in Southern Maryland. Bully The funding for the project is coming from the public informaBling also recently started a clothing line called “Bully tion budget, and another reason they are starting small is because Bling EnerGEAR.” the video project has no funding source of its own. If the project is a Bully Bling and McKay are kicking off a new marketsuccess, he said they would begin putting a budget toward it. ing approach locally and nationally – which will include sarahmiller@countytimes.net QBH St M County TImes Half Ad:Layout 1 3/1/11 3:28 PM hosting Page 1 and participating in cookouts, parties, trade shows, events at night clubs, etc. At these events, the public and

fans will be able to talk about Bully Bling products, Supercross/Motocross racing, have autographs signed, take photos with the Bully Bling girls and more.

“This is a great opportunity for Bully Bling and myself as a professional racer to grow together nationally and to mutually promote ourselves and push the boundaries of an extreme sport working along side an energy drink exploding on the scene,” said McKay. ‘I’m really excited about what we have in store for 2012.”

See www.bullyblingenergy.com for more information.

MHBR No. 103

Community Fundraiser for Fallen Volunteer Roy Rogers is holding a benefit fundraiser for the family of Keith Dowell who passed away Dec. 8 while volunteering his time putting up a steeple at the Potter Place Church in St. Leonard. He leaves behind his wife Valerie, and two children, Autumn and Justin.

Where: Roy Rogers 14000 H.G. Truman Drive Solomons Island MD When: Thursday Jan. 12, 5 – 9 p.m.

Twenty five percent of all proceeds from dining in and drive through customers will be donated to the fund for Autumn and Justin.

Dowell was born in Calvert County on Dec. 31, 1966. Dowell had built a porch roof over the entrance of the church to protect congregants from the weather and had told his wife he wanted to build a steeple for the church.

He had previously been a deacon at Southern Calvert Baptist Church. Dowell also served with the Solomons Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, where he eventually became a sergeant. He served for five years in the U.S. Army as a military officer and later in the Army National Guard. He became a U.S. Capitol Police Department officer in 2002.

Sneade’s Donates $2,000 to Calvert Hospice

From left is Dr. Raymon Noble, Lynne Sneade, Dana Sneade Banyasz, Jeanne Coonan, and Tricia Willis.

Lynne Sneade, Tricia Willis, and Dana Sneade Banyasz of Sneade’s Ace Home Center presented Dr. Raymon Noble, Calvert Hospice Interim Director and Medical Director with a $2,000 check for the Festival of Trees on Friday, Dec. 30.

“We are still putting the numbers together,” said Jeanne Coonan, of the Festival of Trees Steering Committee. “But I think we did really well this year judging by the foot traffic. Checks are still trickling in - we’re so grateful to have the support of community businesses like Sneade’s.”

Both Lynne Sneade, co-owner of Sneade’s Ace Home Center and Tricia Willis, retail marketing programs manager have been on the Festival of Trees committee in the past.

“We’ve been a part of the Festival for a number of years,” said Lynne Sneade. “And you know how it is, the whole family gets involved. I remember when it was at Patuxent High School. There have been a lot of changes, but the cause remains the same and Calvert Hospice is a great cause.”

Willis’ father went through hospice care. “Being involved with the Festival of Trees is a great way to give back,” she said.

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, January 5, 2012

6

Spotlight On

Schools and NAS Pax River Partner for Future Employment

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer Calvert County Public School Superintendent Jack Smith told over 100 parents and students in an informational meeting before winter break that the nation is facing a critical shortage of qualified employees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.

“I heard on NPR over the summer there are a million jobs left unfilled because of the skills gap,” Smith said.

Kathryn Glockner, NAVAIR Outreach Coordinator, confirmed Smith’s statement.

“We are extremely committed to pursuing programs like STEM. It is more than just a NAVAIR issue,” Glockner said.

One way the school system and the Naval Air Station Patuxent River officials plan to home-grow future employees is by providing a number of summer internships and jobs for both high school and college students.

Glockner said she’s seen videos of “How Engineering Changes Your Life” using the examples of iPhone, iPad, and Lexus’ automatic parallel parking.

Mark Wilding, Principal at Calvert Career and Technology Academy, mans “People are living longer and better lives because the sign in table for students and parents interested in learning more about of engineers. It all starts with an education pathway, like summer job opportunities at Patuxent River Naval Air Station and Calvert Project Lead the Way,” she said.

School’s STEM program.

Project Lead the Way is a curriculum used in Calvert schools to introduce students to STEM principles at early ages.

Taking parents and students • Cooperative Education Program: through a PowerPoint slide program, This program offers tuition assistance and book reimbursement for college Glockner highlighted some of the level students. Students are employed by the Navy, and work on the complex during programs offered through Patuxthe summer months, along with holiday breaks. A service obligation is required for ent River. She also walked everyone this program. Contact the program office at (301) 757-4119 for more information or through the application and resume go to http://www.ndep.us/Labs/Pax/engineering_co-op_flyer_ver5.pdf. process on their website www.ndep. us/LabsPax.aspx.

• Pax River Student Summer Employment Program: “It’s a long and complicated apNAWCAD has a limited number of engineering technician positions open to plication. I recommend you start now students. All candidates must apply on-line through the NAVAIR jobs website. Stuand prepare to do a good job on it,” dents must be at least 16 years old. Students can get a head start on their career with said Glockner. the Navy by applying for the Office of Naval Research Science and Engineering Glockner told rising middle Apprentice Program (SEAP), which offers a limited number of summer positions school through high school students at Patuxent River. The goals of SEAP are to encourage participating students to to be very careful not to become in pursue science and engineering careers, to further their education via mentoring by drugs or illegal activities and be filaboratory personnel and their participation in research, and to make them aware of nancially responsible, as it will afDepartment of Navy (DoN) research and technology efforts, which can lead to emfect their ability to pass a background ployment within the DoN. The annual application process, deadline and other details may be found at http://seap.asee.org. Call (301) 757-4123 for more information. check.

She said to get help with the re• Mechanical Engineering Degree Program Partnership: sume. “There is nothing worse than The University of Maryland in partnership with the NAWCAD offers an unmisspelled words or incomplete indergraduate Mechanical Engineering degree at the Southern Maryland Higher formation.” Also, keep the resume to Education Center, providing students with an education and career opportunity in a page and prioritize all their stronNaval Aviation. Contact Dr. David John Barrett Director of Engineering Education gest skills and experience. “You can and Research Partnerships (301) 342-9360 David.Barrett@Navy.mil put that you play football on the resume, but remember we are looking • Naval Research Enterprise Intern Program (NREIP) for engineers.”

NREIP provides competitive research internships to approximately 238 colFinally, don’t neglect opportunilege students (174 undergraduate students and 64 graduate students) each year. Parties for non-paid internships. ticipating students typically spend 10 weeks during the summer doing research at “This is often the foot in the door approximately 18 Navy laboratories. To participate, a student must be enrolled at for future employment,” she said. an accredited four-year U.S. college or university. For more information see nreip.

A copy of the slide program asee.org. explaining all the different opportunities can be found at www.ndep.

• The Science, Mathematics And Research for Transformation (SMART) us/Labs/Pax/DestinationPaxRivScholarship for Service. An opportunity for students pursuing an undergraduate er2012.pdf. or graduate degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines to receive a full scholarship and be gainfully employed upon degree completion. See smart.asee.org/ corrin@somdpublishing.net

Student Opportunities

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Thursday, January 5, 2012

The Calvert Gazette

Working to Fill the Gap in STEM Career Fields

Spotlight On

Mount Harmony Kicks Career Day Up a Notch

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer Piggybacking on Naval Air Station Patuxent River’s informational meeting about summer job opportunities, Calvert County Public Schools informed more than 100 parents and students about classes and programs focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) skills.

The presentation started off with pictures of Career and Technology Academy students set to Only Won’s rap song “I Want To Be An Engineer” with the chorus “Every time I close my eyes, I cal- Natalie Cloak and Gabriella Fratantuono are building a windmill. They design culate a new design. I want blades, test the blades and then go back to change the blades to improve the so freakin’ bad to optimize design. the things I’ve always and innovations for injuries,” Pratt said. had.”

She said she likes to call her classes, “CSI Patuxent High School teacher Jon Vande- meets ER” where students take a hypothetical verter talked about the Project Lead the Way’s dead body and discover the cause of death. It Pre-Engineering program currently being taught could be homicide or medical. Either way, the there and at Calvert High School. Eventually stu- students learn about pandemics, how to read an dents will receive four years of classes that intro- autopsy, monitor an EKG test and write grants, duce engineering design, principles of engineer- among other real world skills. ing and digital electronics.

Next year, all four county high schools will “I love it because it is changing the way stu- offer both STEM pathways. These are courses in dents think. They don’t have to wish their prod- which students can take in addition to their coluct is better. We are teaching them how to design lege-bound curriculum. In some cases, colleges them better,” Vandeverter said. are accepting the Pre-Engineering and Bio-MedThe culmination of the four years of study- ical programs and offering an academic credit. ing aerospace engineering is to take a real world The Career and Technology Academy also engineering problem, design a solution and then offers pathways from the Project Lead the Way defend their work before a panel of five profes- curriculum, designed to better prepare students sional engineers. to compete globally.

Kristin Pratt, teacher at Calvert High At the end of the Manufacturing, EngineerSchool, is in the third year of the Bio-Medical ing and Technology program students will pospathway. sess a broad and fundamental knowledge of elec“Healthcare field is huge. It is a constant. trical, electronic, mechanical, civil, industrial There are jobs and not just about being a doctor and manufacturing engineering. or nurse. There are forensics, pharmacy, research The Computer-Assisted Drafting program teaches students to free-hand sketch and then use a number of software-based design programs.

Instructor Gary Chapman said he recently received an email from a former student now at Webb Institute, a four-year, engineering college specializing in naval architecture and marine engineering.

Teddie Delehanty “He thanked me because he’s is learning how to so much further ahead of most stubuild and program a stop light. Eighth dents because of what he learned,” grade students said Chapman. trace the history Project Lead the Way has and development of automation and courses in four of the middle robotics. schools. In sixth grade the students learn design and modeling, in seventh they learn about energy and the environment and in eighth grade automation and robotics. corrin@somdpublishing.net

Mount Harmony Elementary School has taken “Career Day” to entirely new level this year.

Instead of the traditional day of guests coming in to talk to students about their careers, the school has three days dedicated to the futures of their young professionals.

Prior to winter break, the school set aside three days to start kids thinking about the years ahead that will present them with decisions about further education, job interviews and types of jobs available, according to Guidance Counselor Katie Sinclair.

On Wednesday the students wore clothes from colleges and universities and attend an assembly about the importance of continuing their education.

“We had one teacher tell the kids she decided to attend her college because she liked the name,” Sinclair said.

Thursday the students came dressed for job interviews. The schoolwide assembly that day talked about dressing for success.

On Friday, Tony Navarro, the forPhotos by Corrin M.Howe mer MHES principal, kicked off the traFowler, 4th grade and Mrs. Carla Fowler, 5th ditional career day as the guest speaker. Hailey grade teacher He talked to the students about why it is important, even at their age, to think about careers. Then he shared with them information about his career as a reading specialist working for both Prince George’s and Calvert County and then his path

Calvert County Sheriff Deputy Rick Cox takes students into the SWAT vehicle.

through his other positions.

Community members representing the military, Secret Service, local garden nursery, healthcare industry and engineers spoke to the individual classrooms. In all, 25 speakers shared information and answered questions.

Some students were introduced to unique careers such as elevator technician, cryptology, and counter-piracy.

Kindergarteners Kelly Speyer and Tate Coffey dress up for College Day at Mount Harmony Elementary School.

corrin@somdpublishing.net

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, January 5, 2012

8

STORY

Local Baker Hits the Big Time

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer Every week, viewers tune in to the Food Network to watch the latest episode of their favorite food-based show, often not knowing the contestant. This week, a born and raised Calvert countian competed in the latest episode of Cupcake Wars – Cindy Selby of Blondie’s Baking Company in North Beach.

In the Jan. 1 episode, contestants were competing to cater the cupcakes at the Los Angeles premier of the play “Wicked”, which is a take on “The Wizard of Oz”.

With four chefs and three rounds, the stakes were high right from the beginning.

Selby made it through round one, but was cut at the end of the second round.

In the first round, each participant had to bake cupcakes using two ingredients from the Elphaba (Wicked Witch) or Glinda (Good Witch) categories. The Elphaba side consisted of darker ingredients like portabella mushrooms, port wine and dark chocolate, while the Glinda side had brighter ingredients such as honey, lemons and peppermint. Selby declared herself a “Glinda girl” and made a beeline for the bright side and the lemons. One of her two first round cupcakes utilized a lemon curd filling, a recipe she learned from one of her first cooking instructors and considers it one of her specialties.

In the second round, Selby had to make three different types of cupcakes, each based on the Wicked theme. She chose to make cupcakes based on Elphaba (a chocolate spice cake), Glinda (a classic Blondie cupcake) and the Emerald City (pistachio cupcakes with raspberries). While the flavors were creative, Selby said there was a technical error with the Blondie cupcakes that kept her from advancing to the third and final round.

The road to Cupcake Wars began over a year ago.

Selby said she originally applied to be in the third season of Cupcake Wars at the urging of a few friends in March of 2010, and was surprised when she got a call in February 2011 asking if she was still interested in being on an episode of Cupcake Wars.

She said in between her submitting the application and being invited to go to Los Angeles, the producers and Food Network had plenty of time to check out her business and background and “figure out who [we] are.”

The interviewing process included a primary phone interview, talking to the Cupcake Wars producers and Food Network representatives. In addition to being an established baker and businessperson, Selby said having the right personality is important for getting on the show.

Part of the interviewing process involved posting a video to YouTube about her and her operation. She said normally contestants are given a week to film and post their videos, but because she went nearly a week without checking the answering machine for the store (a habit she has since remedied) she only had 24 hours to get the video filmed and uploaded, a challenge due to her lack of a video recorder, let alone other equipment. With the help of the locally based group Career Puppy, she got it done in time.

She finally got a confirmation from Food Network and then was advised by the Cupcake Wars producers to not talk about the matter. She was barred from talking to media outlets and the public about the episode and its outcome until after its premier Jan. 1.

She got another call Sept. 15 telling her filming would be in Los Angeles on Oct. 1. Going into the studio, Selby didn’t even know what the theme would be, and said she was worried she would get a theme she knew nothing about, in addition to ingredients she normally wouldn’t use.

“It’s very gut wrenching,” Selby said.

In addition to going in blind on the theme, the contestants have to memorize recipes for the cupcakes, fillings and frostings. Being in an unfamiliar kitchen where utensils like food processors and blenders are not the same brand to which the chefs are accustomed was also a challenge. Little issues that normally would have been easy to overcome were mag-

nified under the studio lights and the pressure of the cameras and the countdown, she said.

To practice, Selby said she and her assistant used donated materials to bake in bulk and experiment with recipes, donating the cupcakes to school functions and fundraisers as they went.

Selby has already been asked if she is interested in coming back for another episode and while she was unsure at first, she said now she is ready and willing to go again. She said having

gone through the process of filming once, she feels like she has more of an edge and knows what to expect. She said the winning team already had experience on reality TV, which allowed them to keep their cool under the added pressure of the cameras and unfamiliar kitchen.

With another chance, Selby said she believes she could make it to the final round and even win. As is stands, she said even getting on Cupcake Wars is an honor and will be good for her business.

Before even going on television, Blondie’s had grown to a point where Selby is scouting for new locations to open a second location.

For more information, visit www.blondiesbakingcompany.com or call 443-964-8140.

Blondie’s is located at 8905 Chesapeake Avenue in North Beach. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

Thursday, January 5, 2012

The Calvert Gazette

commissioners

Guest Editorial

By Susan Shaw Calvert County Commissioner, 2nd District

One of the most egregious outrages of the financial collapse is that none of those responsible for it on Wall Street has been held accountable in a court of law.

A whole movement -- Occupy Wall Street -- grew out of the fact that crony capitalism allows a tiny few to reap vast financial rewards at the expense of the rest of the country.

If only some of that anger would be turned on state government’s repeated abuses.

For years, the Office of Legislative Audits (OLA) has been churning out reports about malfeasance and misfeasance, laziness, waste and general bad management within Maryland state agencies. Often the office’s reports find the same flagged behavior unchanged in multiple follow-up reports.

One recent report details how Maryland State Highway Administration officials disguised overspending; conspired with vendors to hide money in order to bilk taxpayers out of more; and shuffled money around within the agency inappropriately. In 2004 the OLA found that the same agency violated procurement rules by giving (without a competitive bidding process) a $750,000 contract to a company where a high-ranking employee’s wife worked.

An audit of the Department of the Environment released earlier this month showed the agency circumvented procurement rules to give contracts to favored people and performed only a fraction of required site inspections. In the past few years, auditors have found state employees who used state computers to access porn thousands of times per week; thousands charged to state credit cards for personal items including televisions, clothes and video games; and identified millions in missing funds.

The people of Maryland have no reason to believe anything is done about those reports. Legislators express outrage, but do not require agency heads to remedy the situation within a specific time or lose privileges, dollars -- or their jobs.

And so OLA soldiers on with its work, relegated to being the CEO of trees falling in a forest that no one knows exists.

This is not to say its work is not important. On the contrary, it’s essential to holding government accountable.

But agency employees should not be forced to spend time reporting about behavior that will not be corrected.

Some have speculated the state needs to budget more money for internal auditors within agencies. But there is no reason to believe those people will have more of a chance of changing a corrupt culture than whistle-blower Eugene Simmers, a longtime SHA employee who was forced to leave after he outed contractors filing false time sheets and overbilling

Happy New Year!

Toothless Audits

By Marta Hummel Mossburg

The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is elected for a four year term and elects officers every year on the third Tuesday in December. On December 20, the BOCC held the second election in this term and elected Commissioner Gerald “Jerry” Clark as the President and Commissioner Steven “Steve” Weems as the Vice President. I offer my congratulations to them!

Does this action mean that I have somehow been “dissed” by my fellow Commissioners? NO. This action is not about me nor about the job I have done in the role of BOCC President, as was stressed at the time of the election. Rather, the other four Commissioners were all quite complimentary about my tenure as President. This action is a reflection of the desire to experience a different leadership style and to allow others the opportunity to lead.

Commissioner Clark, like myself, has served as a Commissioner for nine long years. He sought the opportunity to demonstrate his form of leadership. Nine years is a long time to wait.

We all sincerely believe we are acting in the best interests of Calvert County. Additionally, my style of leadership is not for everyone and is not a prerequisite for doing a competent job. One of the parts of the Commissioner role that I most enjoy is being out in the community, recognizing citizens for all their good works, supporting community efforts of all kinds, and gathering information about what County government is doing right and where we can improve. While enjoyable for me, it is also exhausting and time-consuming in addition to all the other crucial duties of a Commissioner like budgeting, administrative duties, reading volumes of background information, answering 200 to 300 emails per day, and interacting with the media. Yes, many less people call now, but many more email. While numerous emails can be dealt with fairly quickly, others require weeks and months of follow-up. Because my children are adults and I am not currently running a business, and because I am a very energetic, outgoing person, I could make a time and energy commitment that most people cannot. Please keep in mind that the County Commissioner role is paid for part-time work.

Commissioner Clark will demonstrate his own competent leadership style which is different from mine, and which may provide a more realistic model for the other current Commissioners and for future officeholders. Commissioner Nutter stated that he does not feel ready quite yet to take the helm of the BOCC, but that he felt that experiencing a different way of doing the President’s role would help in his preparation and Commissioner Weems seconded that notion. I agree. Commissioner Slaughenhoupt voted in solidarity.

I must tell you that it took me a little while to understand that the other Commissioners were not repudiating my work over the last year and that the decision was really not about me.

Commissioner Clark brings important strengths to the Presidency of the BOCC. Like me, he has gained a lot of experience and knowledge over these last nine years. He has led the Tri-County Council, composed of all the elected people in the three Southern MD Counties, over the last two years, and has tightened and heightened the management of that entity. As a business owner, who has to make a payroll and a profit on a regular basis to stay in business, he is good at decisive decision-making. He is very strong fiscally, with an in-depth knowledge of real estate contracts and finance. These skills are crucial as we move into a period where we will have significantly less property tax revenue to distribute among all our priorities as a County government. He likes to negotiate and I teasingly call him a wheeler-dealer in admiration of those skills that will be put to good use over the coming year. We share a practicality and pragmatism in our views. He has a healthy skepticism about the motives for requests that will serve the citizens well. Most importantly, Commissioner Clark cares deeply about Calvert County.

Consequently, I extend my most sincere congratulations to both Commissioner Clark and to Commissioner Weems in their new roles as BOCC President and Vice President for the coming year! Calvert County is truly blessed with the elected leadership of all five Commissioners. I am proud to serve with each of them. Each brings a unique background and perspective that makes our total commitment a formidable force. I will continue to play an integral role and will continue to represent you to the best of my ability. Thank you for your generous and on-going support.

Editor

the agency. He is vindicated now, but he paid a steep financial price for speaking out. Institutions protect themselves above all else. Look no farther than the Jerry Sandusky child rape scandal at Penn State for evidence.

Bad audits need to come with real financial consequences for agencies in terms of withheld operating funds. Agency heads should also be held criminally liable when their institutions repeatedly defraud taxpayers. Without those changes, OLA will remain political theater for those who hold power.

Marta Hummel Mossburg is a senior fellow at the Maryland Public Policy Institute. from heaven to take the form of a baby, later to grow into the man of Jesus. Whether you believe that Jesus was both fully man and fully God is up to you. But that is what Christians profess. One international ministry which teaches about Jesus uses the illustration of two cliffs separated by a bottomless pit – man is on one cliff and God is on the other. “How can man get across to God?” The ministry draws a bridge that takes the form of a cross, the place upon which Jesus died for proclaiming his message.

Jesus’ message was about changing hearts. One at a time. He said. “There is no greater love than this that a man lay down his life for another.” He had two meanings in mind when he said this. First he foretold of his dying for his people.

But he also meant people laying down their lives daily for others. Imagine if everyone laid down time spent watching TV, reading the Internet Social Networks, working extra hours to get ahead … and invested that hour or so a week in developing relationships with at risk youth, teaching a job skills class in prison or mentoring an inmate who just got out of prison.

The nation was originally founded by men and women who believed in the message of Jesus, the reason for Christmas. As the nation moves further away from the lessons taught, the prisons fill up. Coincidence? While the Gazette doesn’t have space to provide all the prisoner’s responses to questions asked, it was interesting to note that the majority wrote about getting back to teaching church, morals, respect, spirituality, and sanctity of life as solutions for keeping the prison population down.

The message of the Christmas season boils down to this: When God considered the struggles of humanity he did not just resource a project to help out. He laid aside the comforts of heaven and came down to earth. Jesus lived among his people, personally touching them at their point of greatest need.

In addition to the resources of governments and charities, society needs more people like Chaplin John Graham and Merle Morrow who followed Jesus’ example willingly laying aside their comforts to touch those in need. Not just as an act of holiday kindness, but throughout the year.

Publisher Associate Publisher Editor Graphic Artist Office Manager Advertising Email Phone

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Staff Writers Guy Leonard Sarah Miller Corrin Howe

Law Enforcement Government, Education Community, Business

Contributing Writers Joyce Baki Keith McGuire

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Calvert Gazette

P. O. Box 250 . Hollywood, MD 20636 The Calvert Gazette is a weekly newspaper providing news and information for the residents of Calvert County. The Calvert Gazette will be available on newsstands every Thursday. The paper is published by Southern Maryland Publishing Company, which is responsible for the form, content, and policies of the newspaper. The Calvert Gazette does not espouse any political belief or endorse any product or service in its news coverage. Articles and letters submitted for publication must be signed and may be edited for length or content. The Calvert Gazette is not responsible for any claims made by its advertisers.

The Calvert Gazette

Daisy Anderson, 52 Daisy D. Anderson, 52, of La Plata, also known as “Dee Dee” to her family and friends, passed away at home with family at her side on Dec. 27, 2011.

Dee Dee was a person that loved to have a good time.

She enjoyed being around her family, including her grand babies.

She was a fan of the Washington Redskins. She enjoyed the Sam Grow Band, NASCAR, the beach, swimming in her pool, and Coors Light.

She liked to spend time at the Waldorf Moose, and the American Legion-La Plata Post. She was very active in the March of Dimes. She solely raised $2,000 plus for that charity. Dee Dee was always seen laughing, and enjoyed being with her pets as well.

Dee Dee was preceded in death by her father; Fred F. Racey, Sr. She is survived by her mother, June M. Mattingly Racey; husband Craig Anderson; brothers, Fred F. Racey, Jr. (Joann), and Jack Racey; sons, Chris Cusic (Nikki), Josh Welch (Shelia); a step-son, Robert Anderson; a daughter, Lyndsey Welch; a step-daughter, Nicole Anderson; and seven grandchildren, Bradley, Paula, C.J., Zander, Marlee, Kyleigh, and Landon.

A life celebration was held on Friday, Dec. 30, 2011 at the Arehart-Echols Funeral Home, P.A. in La Plata. A Funeral Mass followed on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church-La Plata. Interment followed at St. Ignatius-Hill Top cemetery.

Pallbearers were Gene Quade, Sam Grow, Jacob Cooksey, Clifford Racey, Mark Borawski, and Johnny Racey.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations to be made out to the March of Dimes or the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Shirleen Booth, 63 Shirleen Alice Booth, 63, of Clarksburg, WV passed away on Dec. 19, 2011 at United Hospital Center, Bridgeport, WV. Shirleen was born Feb. 6, 1948, in Calvert County to

the late Janice Rice and Raymond Herbert. She attended and also graduated from District of Columbia public schools.

She was a home­maker with an extra ordinary gift of making beautiful garments and quilts. She had a passion for sewing. As a seamstress, Shirleen made her own clothes as well as her children’s clothes and was frequently requested by family and friends to tailor clothes, compose quilts, arts and crafts. She also enjoyed cooking and watching the Home Shop­ping Show. Shirleen was employed as a supervisor with Minnesota Fabrics, assisting the community and public with their sewing projects.

On April 27, 1968, Shirleen married the late Richard Booth and from this union there were five children: Michele Crawford, Melissa, Melinda, Glenwood (deceased) and Richard L. Booth. Shirleen was a spiritual woman who loved the Lord and instilled in her children to have faith and trust in God. She resided in Clarksburg, West Virginia and was a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church until her passing.

She is survived by her four children: Michele Crawford (Curtis), Melissa, Melinda and Richard Jr; five grandchildren: Dale Britter, Danielle Benjamin, Dante Speas, Curtis Crawford, Jr and Monet Crawford; one great grandson: Alijah Britter; two brothers: Dexter V. Herbert, Sr. (Melissa) and Derrick Herbert (Darlene); three sisters: Deborah Banks, Denise Herbert and Deana Herbert; two broth­ers in-law; four sisters in-law and a host of neph­ ews, nieces, other relatives and friends.

Funeral service was held on Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at 11:00 AM at Sewell Funeral Home, Prince Frederick, MD with Rev. Theodore McClain, eulogist. The interment was at Mt. Hope UM Church Cemetery, Sunderland, MD. The pallbearers were Dexter V. Herbert, Sr., Troy Taylor, Michael Tyson, Derrick Herbert, and Mark Ta. Funeral arrangements provided by Sewell Funeral Home, Prince Frederick, MD.

Pamela Broome, 48 Pamela M. Broome, 48, of Port Republic, MD passed away on December 21, 2011 at her residence.

Pamela Maria Broome was born on October 25, 1963, in Calvert County, Maryland. She was

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the fourth of five children born to William and Eliza Gantt. Pamela lost a courageous battle with cancer and slipped peacefully into eternal rest on Dec. 21, 2011.

Pamela began her early Christian education at Brooks United Methodist Church, under the leadership of the late Reverend Joseph Collins. She later became a member of Healing and Deliverance Church of the Holy Spirit under the leadership of Pastor Aniachi Be’lu-John.

Pamela was educated in the public schools of Calvert County. She was employed at The House of Grace in Bowie, Maryland as a Private Duty Caregiver until her health failed. Pamela provided care and unconditional love to everyone she worked with. She had one of the most beautiful smiles and a pleasant personality. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends doing some of her favorite things; playing cards, watching her favorite football team “Dallas Cowboys”, but most of all she recently gained an interest in watching WWF (World Wrestling Federation) along with her parents.

If you knew her, you could only imagine what that was like.

Pamela honestly enjoyed life. Her favorite saying was “I got a life to live” and she lived it. Growing up she was known by her siblings and close cousins as “cry baby”. It wasn’t unusual for Pam to be seen crying while watching Charlie Brown cartoons. She would say (between sniffles) “They know they don’t have to treat Charlie Brown that way”. Pamela never liked seeing people sad or hurting in any way.

On August 2, 1986 Pamela was united in marriage to Ralph Antonio Broome Sr. and from this union four children were born.

She leaves to cherish her fond memories, her parents William and Eliza; fatherin-law Asia Broome; four children, Ralph Jr., Ral’nisha, Ju’shaun and Ju’vawn; three sisters, Janet, Audrey, and Sherrylynn; one brother, Antonio “Tony”; five brothers-in-law, Asia “Mark”, Leonard, Jerome, Thomas (Leslie) and Scott (Janice); one sister-in-law, Lynette Savoy; five grandchildren, Iyanna, Zayne, Ra-Jon, Janyla and Andrew; six aunts, Mamie Jones (Herbert), Susie Johnson; Annie Reddic; Helen Gantt; Amelia Johnson; Gladys Gantt; two uncles, Thomas Johnson (Lois Jean), George Gantt (Joanie); one great aunt, Mary Bourne; two great uncles Thomas Gray, and Harry Gray (Christine). Pamela had two cousins she held dear to her heart, James “Jim” Gray and Dwan “Terp” Johnson Sr., a special friend Gerald Jacks and a host of nieces, nephew, other relatives and friends.

Funeral service was held on Thursday, December 29, 2011 at 11:00 AM at Brooks UM Church, St. Leonard, MD with Pastor Jason L. Robinson officiating. The interment was at Brooks UM Church Cemetery, St. Leonard, MD. The pallbearers were McKinley Broome, Marco Gantt, James (Jim) Gray, Brian Hawkins, Richard Hicks, and Dwan Johnson, Sr. The honorary pallbearers were Doniele Gray, Floyd Height, Jr., Arron Johnson, and Ray Johnson, Sr. Funeral arrangements provided by Sewell Funeral Home, Prince Frederick, MD.

Carol Godfrey, 64 Carol Ann Godfrey, 64, of Huntingtown, MD passed away suddenly on Dec. 22, 2011.

She was born Feb. 8, 1947 in Alexandria, VA to Carl Dempsey and Mary

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Irene (Maupin) Hautz. Carol was the wife of the late William “Danny” Godfrey who died Nov. 29, 2009.

Surviving are their children Angela Harkness and her husband Brian of Lusby, William D. Godfrey, Jr. and his wife Shana of Olney and Thomas K. Godfrey and his wife Crissy of Sunderland, grandchildren Timothy and Kristin Brady, Zachary and Brienna Harkness, Samantha, Casey, Baeleigh, Gavin and Ethan Godfrey, great granddaughter Ryleigh McLaughlin and sisters Mildred Bonner and her husband Andrew of Charlotte Church, VA and Brenda Frye of Fredericksburg, VA. Friends were received on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011 at Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., 8325 Mt. Harmony Lane, Owings, MD where services were held on Thursday, Dec. 29. Interment followed at Southern Memorial Gardens.

Memorial contributions may be made to Church by the Chesapeake, 3255 Broomes Island Road, Port Republic, MD 20676

Patricia Jones, 72 Patricia Marie Jones, 72, of Lexington Park, MD, formerly of Huntingtown, MD passed away on Dec. 25, 2011 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Leonardtown, MD. She was born on January 13, 1939 in Annapolis, MD to the late Wallace Reid and Helen Olsen Caldwell.

She worked as a nursing assistant at Calvert County Nursing Center for twenty years, until her retirement in 2002. Patricia was a former member of St. Paul Episcopal Church in Prince Frederick, MD. She loved to spend her free time with her family, friends and her loving grandchildren. She had a love of all animals especially strays and she rescued many over the years. Patricia loved doing crafts, crocheting, needle pointing and knitting.

Patricia is survived by a daughter, Darlene Jones of Lexington Park, MD; sons, John Jones and his wife Julie of CO, Bobby Jones and his wife Katie of Port Republic, MD and Mike Jones and his wife Jennifer of St. Leonard, MD; seven Grandchildren Wendy, Patrick, Timmy, Kaitlyn, Brianna, Ryan and Sam. A Life Celebration Memorial Service was held on Friday, Dec. 30, 2011 in Friendship United Methodist Church, 22 West Friendship Road, Friendship, MD 20758, with Pastor Byron Brought, Jr., officiating. Inurnment was private.

Should friend’s desire, memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the Well Pet Clinic, 21800 N. Shangri-La Drive Unit 16, Lexington Park, Maryland 20653, www. thewellpetclinic.com.

Arrangements provided by Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., Lusby, MD. www.rauschfuneralhomes.com

David Ligay, 65 David Ligay of Dunkirk, MD, passed away on Dec. 26, 2011 at the age of 65. David was born on March 16, 1946 in Yonkers, NY to Alma (Ballas) Ligay and the late Alexander Ligay.

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Thursday, January 5, 2012

He was the oldest of three children and attended St. Casimir Elementary School in Yonkers and Cardinal Hayes High School, Bronx, NY. After a period of study at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, NY and Seminary of Our Lady of Angels, Albany, NY he was employed by Westchester County, NY Department of Health. He furthered his education at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. earning a Master of Social Work degree. He was most recently employed by Prince George’s County, Maryland Health Department as a Medical Social Worker. He was a member of the National Association of Social Workers and attained several advanced professional certifications and licenses. David was employed there for thirty-two years, retiring in 2010. David was an active member of The Covenant Community of Jesus the Good Shepherd.

He had a great culinary passion and was an avid lover of antiques, collectibles and religious articles of all types. During recent years he most especially enjoyed taking pilgrimage journeys abroad with Bill and other family members.

David was preceded in death by his father Alexander Ligay and by a brother Peter Ligay.

He is survived by his life partner of 36 years, William H. “Bill” Gilbert, Jr. of Dunkirk, his mother Alma Ligay of Longwood, FL, a sister Susan A. Riehl and husband Michael of Beacon, NY, a sister-in-law Lynn Ligay of Mahopac, NY, and by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Friends and family were received on Thursday Dec. 29 at Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., 8325 Mt. Harmony Lane, Owings, MD, and on Friday Dec. 30 at Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 1601 W. Mt. Harmony Road, Owings, MD, where a Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated. A reception followed in the church hall, and burial was at St. John Vianney Church Cemetery in Prince Frederick, MD. Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. For additional information visit www.rauschfuneralhomes.com.

John McCready, 75 John Berkeley McCready, 75, of Port Saint Lucie, FL passed away on Dec. 21, 2011 at Palm Gardens. He was born on January 14, 1936 in Calvert County, Maryland to the late John and Grace Humphreys McCready.

Mr. McCready had been a resident of Florida for three and a half years, coming from Maryland. He was retired from the United States Government, having worked as a plumber for the White House in Washington, D.C. Mr. McCready is survived by his loving wife of three and a half years, Juana G. McCready; three step daughters, Jenny Brown, Claribel Meserve, and Maria Kolhler; siblings, Marie M. Hardesty, Erma M. Breeden, Annie M. Batchelor, Lynette M. Ward, Eunice M. Habig, Donas H. McCready, and Harold L. McCready. He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Earlamond McCready and siblings, J. Edward McCready, C. Dudley McCready, and Ethel M. Grover.

The family received friends on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011 from 10 – 11 AM in the First Baptist Church of Calvert Co., Prince Frederick, MD where a funeral service will be held at 11 AM with Pastor Ralph Nevin officiating.

Interment will follow in the Cedar Hill Cem-

The Calvert Gazette

etery, Suitland, MD at 2: 30PM. Arrangements provided by Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., Lusby, MD.

Brenda Perry, 70 Brenda Dixon Perry, 70, of Lothian, MD passed away Dec. 20, 2011 at Anne Arundel Medical Center, Annapolis, MD. She was born September 24, 1941 to Agnes (Smith) and Sewell W. Dixon, Sr. at the old Annapolis hospital, and was raised in Galesville, MD. Brenda graduated in 1959 from Southern High School in Lothian, MD and then attended the University of Maryland in College Park.

She married Thomas C. Perry of Bristol, MD in 1961, and they made their home, their living, and raised their family on the tobacco farm in Lothian. Besides raising her five children and nurturing her 13 grandchildren, her hobbies included quilting, Eastern Shore shopping, gardening, reading and corresponding with family and friends.

Brenda was preceded in death by her husband of forty years, Thomas Chaney Perry, Sr., her parents, a brother Sewell W. Dixon, Jr., and a brother-in-law John C. Hines, Sr. She is survived by four daughters, Dale P. Clark and husband Leslie, Heidi P. Meginnis and husband Mark, all of Severn, MD, Laura P. Brown and husband Scott of Pasadena, MD, and Heather P. Jones and husband Charles of Lothian, MD; and by a son Thomas C. “Tommy” Perry, Jr. and wife Stacy of Reston, VA. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren: Trey, Oliver and Hudson Perry, Jay and Perry Clark, Savannah and Will Meginnis, Elizabeth and Morgan Brown, Addisen, Adelle, Charles and Ada Jones. Also surviving are her sisters Betty Jane Moreland, Sue D. Hines both of Galesville, MD, and Dotty Chaney of Lothian, MD, and a brother Chuck Dixon also of Galesville.

Also surviving are numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Family and friends were received Thursday December 22, 2011 at Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., 8325 Mt. Harmony Lane, Owings, MD, where services and a celebration of Brenda’s life was held Friday Dec. 23, 2011. Interment followed at Smithville United Methodist Church Cemetery, Dunkirk, MD. For additional information visit www.

RauschFuneralHomes.com.

Brooke Reynolds, Sr., 88

Eugene Smith, III, 59

Brooke F. Reynolds, Sr., 88, of Prince Frederick, MD passed away on Dec. 6, 2011 at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, Charlotte Hall, MD. He was born on June 8, 1923 in Calvert County to the late Charles William Reynolds, Sr. and Charlotte Butler Reynolds.

He started his education in the Wallville one room school. He was inducted into the US Army on July 18, 1943 and served 28 months during World War II. He worked for the State Highway Administration and moved to the Federal Government (Randall Cliff Naval Base) until retirement in 1978, due to failing eyesight. Upon retirement Brooke Reynolds started his Prayer Line Partners Out Reach.

Mr. Reynolds was doing on an average of 3,000 hours per year on his prayer line.

On April 12, 1943 he was joined in holy matrimony to the late Mary Elizabeth Harris and remained married for 59 years. To this union seven children were born.

In 1957 he became actively involved in Brooks Church. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club, Honorary Member of Victoria Lodge #71, and the American Legion.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary; sons, Sherwood and Raymond; one sister, and five brothers.

He leaves to celebrate his life: one daughter, Charlotte Clark (Robert Clark) of Prince Frederick, MD; four sons, Frank (Karin) of Schweinfurt, Germany; Linwood (Lucille) of Prince Frederick, MD; Clifton (Bessie) of Mitchellville, MD and Allen (Camille) of Prince Frederick, MD; 10 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren; two sisters in law; Ruth Reynolds and Bernice Harris; a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, and special friends Rev. Robert Conway, Arthur Sewell, and Ernest Reynolds.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at Brooks United Methodist Church, St. Leonard, MD with Pastor Jason Robinson officiating.

Funeral arrangements provided by Sewell Funeral Home, Prince Frederick, MD.

Eugene McTyere Smith, III “Smitty”, 59, of Lusby, MD, formerly of Brandywine and Waldorf (St. Charles), MD passed away suddenly on Dec. 22, 2011 at Calvert Memorial Hospital, Prince Frederick, MD. He was born on July 8, 1952 in Durham, NC to the late Eugene M. Smith, Jr. and Avis Reeves Smith. “Smitty” married his beloved wife Bonnie on Feb. 26, 1999 in Prince Frederick, MD and they renewed their vows on May 8, 2000 at Gilbert Run State Park, Charlotte Hall, MD. Eugene served his country for eight years, from 1980 to 1988 in the United States Army, 19th Combat Engineer Division. While serving his country Eugene was stationed in Germany. He received the following decorations, Army service ribbon, Army lapel button, Rifle M-16 MKM qualifying badge, hand grenade expert qualifying badge, good conduct medal (second award), overseas service ribbon and the Army achievement medal.

“Smitty” worked for IBEW 26 as an electrician. He was a member of the U.S. Military Vets Motorcycle Club, American Legion Post #274, Lusby, MD, ABATE and HOG. Eugene is survived by his wife Bonnie J. Smith; children Michael and Jerette Lerner of Florham, NJ and Kate and Robbie Robbins of Gibbsboro, NJ; brother Thomas and Kathy Smith of Olympia, WA and four grandchildren.

A Life Celebration Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, 2 PM at the American Legion Post #274, 11820 H. G. Trueman Road, Lusby, MD 20657. Inurnment will take place at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA at a later date.

Should friends desire contributions may be made in his memory to the Wounded Warrior Project, 1120 G Street NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005 www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

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ner

KiddKioer

CLUES ACROSS

1. Easy as 1-2-3 4. Goat and camel hair fabric 7. A women undergarment 10. British bathrooms 12. Assemblages of parts into one entity 14. Semitic fertility god 15. Dull & uninteresting 16. Yemen capital 17. Stare impertinently 18. Banished persons 20. Heart failure & energy supplement 22. Reduction in force 23. Women’s ___ movement 24. Polynesian wrapped skirt 26. Double-reed instruments 29. Own (Scottish) 30. Summer window dressings 35. Many not ands 36. Paddle 37. Being a single unit 38. Silly behavior 44. Insecticide 45. A blank area 46. Reduces stress

Thursday, January 5, 2012

48. Morning moisture 49. Tear away roughly 50. Elevated 53. Cristobalite 56. Baseball’s Ruth 57. Indian monetary unit 59. Contest of speed 61. Having a slanted direction 62. Gross receipts 63. A river in NE Spain 64. The brain and spinal cord (abbr.)

65. Dynegy Inc. on NYSE 66. Japanese monetary unit

CLUES DOWN

1. Vestment worn by priests 2. The trunk of a tree 3. Transmission line cable 4. Freshwater duck genus 5. Bulk storage container 6. Oil obtained from flowers 7. Shopping containers 8. Abnormal breathing 9. Brew 11. Bake eggs in their shells 12. Serviceable 13. A person in the navy

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14. A child’s slight injury 19. Fain 21. Supports trestletree 24. Parian Chronicle discovery site 25. Greek famous for fables 27. Farcical afterpiece 28. Dispatches by mail 29. Hall of Fame (abbr.)

31. Aah 32. Unnaturally pale 33. Before 34. Fixed in one’s purpose 39. Madames 40. Frosts 41. City drains 42. Baseball playoff 43. Cruise 47. Steeple 50. Precipitation 51. Ancient Greek rhetorician 52. A unit of two 53. Viewed 54. Taxis 55. 4840 square yards 56. London radio station 58. Perform work regularly 60. Longest geological time

Last Week’s Puzzle Solutions

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The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Newsmakers

Scottish Implant Pens Novel Set in Calvert

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer Publishing a book the traditional way through agents and publishers, or even self-publishing, is difficult; however, Stuart Haddon discovered it takes even longer when doing it as a part-time resident of the United States.

Haddon, originally from Scotland, has a long term visa to the United States, where he lives with his American wife and in-laws in Port Republic. In fact, it is because he splits his time between Scotland and the United States that he came up with his plot for his recently self-published book “The Butterfly and The Bull.”

He was walking the family pet, Joe The Dog, when he started thinking of the idea for his novel. It is a tale about a Scotsman who is seeking to find his abducted wife and “in the process becomes involved in a conspiracy to restore democracy to the land of the free.”

Those familiar with Calvert County will recognize many of the scenes set in America and then can learn about Haddon’s native land in which the other half of the scenes are set.

However, before Haddon’s characters and scenes made it into the selfpublishing world of Create Space, which provides formatting for the Kindle and Amazon.com, the author had to apply for a temporary tax identification number in the United States.

“There is an agreement between the U.K. and U.S. that applies. I have to sign an affidavit stating that I am following that particular tax agreement between them,” said Haddon.

He didn’t become aware that he needed this temporary tax identification until he got to the selfpublishing stage. The application process created a six to eight week delay in getting his book out.

Self publishing wasn’t Haddon’s first approach to getting his story out. He first attempted to sell it to publishers in the United Kingdom because they are smaller. “Looking back it was an unrealistic expectation.”

Stuart and Juli Haddon sailing on the Chesapeake Bay

Then he started using a program called Query Tracker which helped him target specific agents and publishers. However, he learned that literary agents are reluctant to look at books on “a fashion parade.

They will tell you that they don’t like that and if they catch you doing it they won’t look at your book,” said Haddon.

He explains a “fashion parade” is when an author sends a manuscript out to several agents at the same time. Since they all know each other, it doesn’t take long to find out when an author is trying to speed up the process of becoming published.

“I did some research on the net. The chances of getting published are almost as low as winning the lottery,” he said.

So now he’s working on promoting his book through blogs that critique books, asking friends and family to read his book and write a review on Amazon. com and building upon the network of people he knows in both the United States and United Kingdom.

The main issue he has with his readers from abroad is they can’t always access his book from the “.com.uk” web address. Some of his friends have purchased it through the United States and paid the premium on postage. So he’s considering finding a self publishing format which can make his book more accessible for his native land. corrin@somdpublishing.net

Understanding Inflammation

By Debra Meszaros MXSportsNutrition.com

Debra Meszaros

is a Certified Although tremendously misunderSports Nutristood and overlooked, body language is tionist and Bioone of the greatest functions of the hufeedback pracman body. One of the most used forms of titioner with communication is inflammation. If we further educalisten, its message can tell us a lot about tional studies what is actually going on. Developing in Naturopathy, Home o p at hy, an understanding of why it happens will Orthomolecular uncover the reason or reasons it is hapNutrition and pening in the first place. It can help us additionally alleviate health issues that arise when we holds fourteen U.S. patents. Through her ignore or suppress it, as it can become extensive health education, and experia chronic issue if it is happening for the ence of 20-plus years in cellular biology, she has developed an all-encompassing wrong reasons. Inflammation is an imHolistic health service that allows inmune system response. dividuals to discover their biochemical There are a wide range of causes uniqueness, allowing them to fine tune of inflammation, the one we are most their health. The basis of her service is to familiar with is inflammation brought facilitate access to information that will on by injury. When injury occurs the help your understanding of health processes and elements that are within your immune system responds by increasing area of control. Her services are available circulation in the area of injury to help in Maryland, Virginia and South Carothe healing process. White blood cells lina. She can be reached at (540) 622 – travel to the affected area so the body 4989 Monday through Friday. can rebuild fibers. This is a beneficial, good process but there are diet and lifestyle choices that can bring on a different form of bad inflammation. Here are some ways to avoid unwanted, harmful inflammation.

• Simply staying hydrated so your body can carry out all its metabolic functions. Your muscles depend highly on sufficient water to contract and relax. Drink half your body weight in water per day (sipping, not all at once or large quantities at once). With adequate water the body will not increase blood flow to the point of creating inflammation.

• AGE (advanced glycation end products) increase inflammation and are created by grilled, fried, and overcooked food. Steamed and boiled foods prevent AGE’s from forming.

• Sugar and sugar related products stress the pancreas and when excess insulin floods the bloodstream, an inflammatory response is initiated.

• Managing your stress levels so the nervous system doesn’t create an inflammatory response. You can additionally support your adrenals and thyroid (both directly related to stress) by incorporating a vitamin B complex and vitamin C supplement to your health protocol. Utilizing Tulsi tea (holy basil) is another anti-stress option.

• Utilize curcumin, turmeric, and krill or high quality fish oils to help control unwanted inflammation.

• Following a proper diet of quality protein, quality fats (love that coconut oil), and plant-based complex carbohydrates, avoiding simple and processed carbohydrates such as flours. Balancing your nightshades (tomato, peppers, eggplant, and potatoes) so they are not in excess within your diet. A great rule is not to consume these nightshades everyday and adopt a four day rotational eating plan.

Consuming protein speeds up muscle repair and cellular maintenance.

• Practice a routine, healthy sleep pattern, making sure you are asleep between the hours of 11 PM and 1 AM, when the body does most of its repair and rejuvenation work.

Feel free to explore these options so you can easily manage both good and bad inflammation you may be experiencing.

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.

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, January 5, 2012

14

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.

Theatre Group Looking for a Home

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer They may not be starving artists, but the Twin Beach Players troupe is homeless, a fact the group is working to remedy by raising money for a Twin Beach Arts Center.

They are looking at existing buildings that aren’t historical and that have enough parking to accommodate theatre goers on production nights, according to Twin Beach Players Vice President and Youth Troupe director Regan Cashman.

Finding the right location is proving to be a “big challenge” she said.

The arts center would be the home for the Twin Beach Players and the youth troupe, as well as providing a venue for workshops and other activities. Currently, Cashman said the group competes with other groups for locations and the facility would provide them with dedicated space.

The first fundraiser for the arts center was held during the youth troupe production of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” According to Cashman, they took in $700 for the playhouse.

The next fundraiser for the group will be Feb. 12 at the Rod ‘N’ Reel. The Twin Beach Players will be presenting “Love Letters” by A.R. Gurney, featuring Doug Hill of ABC and WTOP weather reporting and Lisa Baden, a metropolitan traffic reporter.

The Valentine’s Day production will be $75 per couple and $40 per single ticket, which also buys a “Taste of Southern Maryland” meal from the Rod ‘N’ Reel. The event will also feature a silent auction.

Along with the fundraising, Cashman said the group will be working with schools and other arts groups to get support, as well as applying for grants. She said the idea has taken root in the community and is “starting to grow.”

In addition to working toward their new venue, the troupe is also preparing for their upcoming 2012 season.

The troupe will be presenting a female version of Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple” at the Holland Point Civic Center in March and

Entertainment Events Thursday, Jan. 5 Live Music: “The Piranhas” Olde Town Pub (22785 Washington Street, Leonardtown) – 7 p.m.

Live Music: “Sam Grow” Ruddy Duck Brewery (13200 Dowell Road, Dowell) - 8 p.m.

Live Music: “Four of a Kind” Cryer’s Back Road Inn (22094 Newtowne Neck Road, Leonardtown) – 9 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 6

Sunday, Jan. 8

Live Music: “A Day Off Earth” Toot’s Bar (23971 Mervell Dean Road, Hollywood) – 8 p.m.

Live Music: “Sam Grow Band” Anthony’s Bar and Grill (10371 Southern Maryland Boulevard, Dunkirk) – 7 p.m.

Live Music: “Piney Point Playboys” Fenwick Used Books and Music (41655 Fenwick St, Leonardtown) - 3 p.m.

April, as well as Mary Shelly’s “Frankenstein” at a venue to be determined in October and November.

In a recent development, Cashman said the three youth-oriented programs have found a home at the Boys and Girls Club North Beach Boys and Girls Club. The youth productions include Shakespeare’s “The Twelfth Night” in June, the seventh annual Kids’s Playwriting Festival in August and the annual production of “A Christmas Carol” in the November/December timeframe.

The Twin Beach Players are also in charge of the U.S.O. performance at the Stars and Stripes Festival during Memorial Day weekend.

The troupe is all-volunteer, Cashman said, and has grown to more than 100 adults and 80 youths actively involved. She said they have begun to outgrow normal venues they rent, yet another reason the new center is needed.

“It’s a good problem to have,” Cashman said.

She said they have a continuous need for producers, actors and behind the scenes workers and have a place for anybody who wants to get involved in theatre on stage or off.

“We don’t turn down anybody,” she said.

For more information, visit www.twinbeachplayers.com. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

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

Music Trivia Toot’s Bar (23971 Mervell Dean Road, Hollywood) – 1 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 9

Live Music: “Kappa Danielson and Paul Larson” The Westlawn Inn (9200 Chesapeake Avenue, North Beach) – 7:30 p.m.

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

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

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

County Nights Dance Hotel Charles (15110 Burnt Store Road, Hughesville) – 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 7 Live Music: “Full Steam” The Green Turtle (98 Solomons Island Rd., South Prince Frederick) – 9:30 p.m.

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

Tuesday, Jan. 10

Live Music: “Fair Warning” DB McMillan’s (23415 Three Notch Road, California) – 5 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 11 Live Music: “Wolf’s Blues Jam” Emerald Cove Restaurant (8416 Bayside Road, Chesapeake Beach) – 8 p.m.

Live Music: “Larry Tierney” La Tabella (23154 Wetstone Lane, California) – 7 p.m.

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Sp rts

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, January 5, 2012

All in Awe

Fur and Feathers

By Keith McGuire Contributing Writer First of all, I want to extend my apologies to Mr. Claus for misspelling his name in my column last week. I can assure you, Santa, it was unintentional and I hope you don’t take such offense that you will put me on your “naughty” list!

Hunting wise, the calendar year ended quite well for me on New Year’s Eve. I joined two others in the morning for a goose hunt. We stood in the goose blind and exchanged stories, solved the problems of the world, and laughed as tundra swans landed in our decoys.

Soon we crouched like tigers as the Canada geese cupped wings to land close enough to shoot. “Take ‘em!” was the call that we wanted to hear. When it was all done and the geese were collected, we whickered over each others’ misses and expressed bravado for the ones we knew fell as a result of our own trigger pull. By “trigger pull” count, there

should have been six or more geese on the water.

As the last of the morning flights ended, it was apparent that we were two short of our limit of two geese each.

We surmised that the geese would return to the water by the end of the day, and that there was a good chance that they would come to our decoys again. The other two decided to stick it out and stay in the blind for the rest of the day until sunset. I chose to take off into the woods for the final evening of the muzzleloader season. I took the two geese that we surmised to be mine and headed straight home to clean them before donning deer hunting gear and heading to the woods.

It was uncharacteristically warm for this time of year, which made it difficult to get into the woods without breaking a sweat. The wind force told me to head to a ground blind and I was able to get there with the wind in my face. And then I sat waiting for sunset.

Since this was the last day of the muzzleloader season, I knew that I wanted to leave the woods with an unloaded muzzleloader: a firearm that stays loaded for the season without a primer charge except when hunting. As I sat there in the woods primed and ready, the only sound was the wind as it banged tree branches together. By 4:00 PM I was ready to see a squirrel or anything that I could shoot to unload the muzzleloader and head home for a New Year’s Eve dinner. Nothing came by. After all, despite my optimism that got me into the woods, I hadn’t seen a deer in the woods for 3 weeks!

Sunset came, and in the fading light I began to eye a stump 20 yards from where I was sitting as a likely target for unloading. Then, as I glanced to the right, there was a deer! It wasn’t a big deer, but it was a suitable deer for unloading a muzzleloader on the last day of the season. New Year’s Eve dinner would be interrupted and delayed.

Two geese and a deer on the same day! What a way to end the year! I was in awe of the day that I had.

I knew I wouldn’t last until midnight, but I was sure

A View From The

Bleachers

By Ronald N. Guy Jr. Contributing Writer

My favorite holiday songs are Bruce S p r i n g s t e e n’s version of “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” and Chuck Berry’s toe-tapping “Run Run Rudolph”. In the former’s second verse, The Boss’ distinct, gravelly voice bellows, “He’s making a list, he’s checking it twice, gonna find out who’s naughty or nice.” Without a doubt, ‘tis the season for wish lists and resolutions. I’m pretty sure Southern, MD made the bearded, kid-charmer’s nice list, wouldn’t you agree? And since Santa’s all done delivering Nintendo DS and Wii games, and iPads

to the kiddies, perhaps he has time for a few last minute wishes for a credit-deflecting parent who helped perpetuate his good work. Seems fair to me; so without further adieu, the 2012 wish list…

The ‘Skins REALLY need a promising young quarterback. Please let one find his way onto the roster next year. We simply can’t endure another season with the human turnover, Rex Grossman, behind center. I know young quarterbacks are as risky as going for an approach shot with a 180-yard carry over water, but at this point I don’t care. We’re so jaded by the decadeslong search for a signal caller that it doesn’t matter if he’s any good; it’s that he could be really good. A young quarterback, while an unknown commodity, symbolizes hope. Hope, Santa. Hope for something ‘Skins fans haven’t had in 20 years: sustained excellence. Please, Santa…we’re trying to keep hope alive, but it’s in critical condition.

Next up on my 2012 wish list are a couple things for our beleaguered Mary-

that the New Year would start without me. It was time for me to rest!

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

New Year’s Eve Geese

New Year’s Wishes land Terrapins. First, for the men’s basketball team, I’d like a little number in front of the name “Maryland.” I’d prefer it to be a single number, but a two-digit number will do – I’m not greedy. See the little number would mean they are nationally ranked… as they used to be and should be again.

This would allow us to dream big again come March Madness. For the football team, please slip coach Randy Edsall the Tin Man’s oil can, Santa. I’m pretty sure he can coach, but thus far his approach has been far too rigid. If this is going to work, the coach needs to be a little more flexible.

My wish for the Wizards is simple: good luck. In the midst of a massive rebuild, they’re correctly stashing young talent. The problem is that talent is immature and, at the moment, not very good. With another appearance in the NBA Draft Lottery a near certainty, I’d ask that lady luck smile upon them and deliver a top pick to couple with budding star John Wall.

A few years ago, what was left of the Montreal Expos (after years of incompetent self-rule by Major League Baseball) relocated to D.C. and became, to this point, our lovable losers (the Nationals). One can sense, though, that – cue Bob Dylan - our baseball “times they are a changing.” With good health in 2012 – specifically the con-

tinued comebacks of pitchers Jordan Zimmermann and Stephen Strasburg from elbow reconstruction and a full season from star 3rd baseman Ryan Zimmerman – the Nats could make some noise in the NL East.

My final wish is for the sports radio heads to lighten the ridicule of the home teams in 2012. I know theirs is a ratings game and the most outrageous often sells the best, but we’ve heard enough postmortem on the ‘Skins’ dysfunction and the dark state of everything that is D.C. sports. Be a little gentler with our struggling franchises. How about spending as much time analyzing ways to transcend the current predicaments as you do droning on about past transgressions? Please?

Time will tell if any of these wishes land “under our tree” (i.e. on our T.V. screens). Regardless, let’s endeavor to incorporate some of it – greater personal flexibility and less critical critiques of others - in our daily operations and wish the rest of it – hope for a bright future, the ability to dream to the limits of our imagination, good health and luck’s favor - on our fellow earth-dwellers. Sincerest wishes for a happy and prosperous 2012 to you and yours…

Send comments to rguyjoon@yahoo.com

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