2012-01-19 Calvert Gazette

January 19, 2012

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Students Learn Firefighting Firs Page 8

Photo By Corrin M. Howe

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The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, January 19, 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

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Volunteer firefighters from Huntingtown and Solomons fire stations work with county high school students at the Southern Maryland Regional Training Center for Maryland’s Fire and Rescue Institute in La Plata.

education

Huntingtown High School Computer Science teacher Tom Currier, right, is working with Science teacher Victoria Bol to organize a trip to Europe for students in 2013.

entertainment

The Sam Grow Band of one of several bands in Southern Maryland that are working on new projects for 2012. Their new single “Shot of Crown” will hit iTunes on Jan. 25.

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COUNTY NEWS

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Some Drum Point Citizens Challenging Association

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer The Drum Point special tax district (STD) has been a point of contention for years, and citizens who are not sold on the new proposed STD have taken it upon themselves to create their own proposal.

Most recently, Frances Borch and Barbara McCashin addressed the Board of County Commissioners during its public comment section of the Jan. 10 meeting. They offered an alternative to the proposal already presented by the Drum Point Property Owner’s Association (DPPOA) board of directors.

Borch said the project to create a different STD proposal began when she and a group of neighbors decided to attend a DPPOA meeting.

“We wanted to learn more about the workings of the board. Our presence was not particularly welcomed,” Borch said during the commissioners meeting.

She said the DPPOA was holding meetings do discuss the STD with little to no notice, and when community members decided to attend they were told they “could attend but not participate.”

Borch and other members of the community decided to form their own organization, the Drum Point Group. She said more than 300 home owners signed a petition to keep the STD payments at $50 per lot, and they count all 300 of the homeowners members of the Drum Point Group. Currently, the Drum Point Group has worked two budgets, one keeping the STD at $50 and the other raising it to $73.

Members of the DPPOA see the Drum Point Group as going the wrong way going about having their opinion heard.

Max Munger, treasurer of the DPPOA, said “the state law doesn’t provide for citizen input” and it is the purview of the

DOPPA to submit for the STD. He said not even the DPPOA has a vote on whether the Board of County Commissioners will pass the STD proposal, or what changes they will make before passing it. Between the Board of County Commissioners and the state STD regulations, Munger said the DPPOA is limited on what they can spend the STD money on.

He said the DPPOA made sure to offer a couple nights where anybody who had something to say about the STD could come out and voice their opinions and concerns, but the various committees formed to study the STD, like the budget committee, the finance committee, the planning committee and the STD petition submission committee, gathered only a handful of people, the rest of the community being too “apathetic’ to join, Munger said.

From what he has seen, the Drum Point Group’s proposed budgets don’t begin to cover all the things that need to be paid for. They cut out insurance items and under-provide for other necessary payments.

“Their budget is completely unworkable,” Munger said.

Gary Heal, president of the DPPOA, echoed Munger, saying according to state law, the DPPOA represents Drum Point and is the only group that can request a STD. He said he wonders why the group didn’t bring their ideas first to the DPPOA. “Obviously, they’re trying to circumvent, elude of some other way get around the association,” Heal said.

He said he has also heard murmurs of people wanting the DPPOA to be replaced, and wonders if the Drum Point Group’s goals go beyond simply drafting an alternative budget.

Huntingtown Master Plan Still On Hold

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer Scheduled updates to the Huntingtown Master Plan remain on hold while the State Highway Administration (SHA) does a road study of Route 2/4, between Routes 521 and 524 in Huntingtown.

SHA Project Manager for the study, Jamaica Arnold, said the study is being done at the request of the county, and SHA is currently working on their preliminary analysis. According to information given out at the first shareholder’s meeting in December, the number of crash rates and significant crash types between Radcliff Drive and Sheckells Road are higher than the state average.

Shareholders in the study include the Calvert County Board of Education, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Hatchers Feed and Farm Supply, staff from Calvert County and private residents in the area being studied.

Arnold said there is also a preliminary environmental analysis being done with the land use information the county supplied. She said SHA is working to have a presentation to give to the board of county commissioners by the summer. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

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By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

In what state officials are calling a potential cost-savings move, the Maryland Farm Service Scan this “Times Code” Agency (FSA), part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is considering closing up its shop in with your smart phone Calvert County and combining it with the sister agency in St. Mary’s County to consolidate the operations.

Accepting: The public meeting to discuss the idea will be held Feb. 3 at the Prince Frederick Public Library at 1 p.m., according to the state’s Farm Services Agency.

99 Smallwood Dr. Waldorf, MD • 206 Washignton Ave. LaPlata, MD Charles Cawley, the executive director of the state FSA, said that while one office may be closed SERVING CHARLES • ST. MARY’S • PG • CALVERT (301) 932-7700 (301) 870-7111 down, no employees are set to lose their jobs as a result of the shift.

“That’s No. 1, we’re not losing any personnel,” Cawley told the Calvert Gazette, adding that some staff may be moved other FSA offices in either Anne Arundel or Prince George’s counties.

“The jobs stay in Southern Maryland,” Cawley said.

Patrick Goode, the Calvert branch director said that the decision to consider the consolidation was a surprise to many in the office as they were only informed of the upcoming hearing Jan. 9.

The change could come as quickly as 90 days, Goode said.

The local FSA is important because it works with local farmers to find portions of their land that can be set aside to remain fallow in an effort to clean up the watershed, Goode said.

The FSA rents those portions of the farmers land to Gary Simpson ensure they are not cultivated, thus keeping fertilizer with Matt Laidley its concurrent nitrogen and phosphorus loads – which can Katie Facchina contribute to bay pollution – off the land and out of the 7480 Crain Highway watershed.

La Plata, MD 20646 The local FSA also aids farmers with federal disas301-934-8437 ter relief money due to damages sustained from drought and storms like the ones that downed many crops last April Hancock summer.

PO Box 407 An Independent Agent Representing: ERIE INSURANCE GROUP The major inconvenience will likely be for Calvert Standing: Dan Burris, Jake Kuntz, Seated: Lisa Squires, Bryans Road, MD 20616 farmers, Goode said, if the change goes through.

Susan Ennis, Donna Burris 301-743-9000 “For some it will means a longer distance to travel to get services,” he said.

For more information contact the Maryland FSA at 443-482-2760.

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COUNTY NEWS

The Calvert Gazette

Town Buys Marshland for Restoration Effort

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The Town of North Beach has secured about 16 acres of marshland in the northern section of the town as well as about one-half acre of upland from private owners to make way for a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project designed to turn the wetland’s deteriorating condition around.

The town council recently reviewed the army’s proposal for restoring the wetlands, which included eliminating an invasive and destructive form of plant life known as phragmites through spraying of herbicides but also through digging channels from the nearby Chesapeake Bay into the marshlands that would circulate sea water back into the marsh, killing the encroaching plants.

The plan also calls for a new culvert pipe at both the northern and southern ends of Route 261 at the wetlands; town engineering staff have informed the town council members that the culvert under the highway at the border with Anne Arundel would have two-to-three times

the capacity of the present one to combat heavy sedimentation in the pipe.

Finally the corps’ plan calls for breakwaters in the bay to the 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 that the recent agreement with the local Walton family to secure the land had gone on for more than two years and will actually make the town’s plans to work with the army corps easier by removing one of the negotiating parties.

“We’re buying most of that marshland for really not a whole lot,” Hummel said. “It’s very small dollars.”

The price the town paid for the land will go towards defraying some of the cost the town would have had to match to have the army come in and begin the project, Hummel said.

“Our cost will go into the match for the land,” Hummel said. “We’ll pay the full amount, but this will go towards that.”

Annual Chocolate Lovers Affair

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer Get your sweet tooth in gear, the seventh annual Calvert County Chamber of Commerce’s Chocolate Lovers Affair is set for Feb. 4 from 7-11 p.m.

This year, the venue will move to the Solomons Island Holiday Inn, which offers more space. Calvert County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Carolyn McHugh said the venue that has been used in the past was filled to capacity last year, and in order to allow the event to continue growing they needed a new venue.

The evening will consist of a silent and live auction, voting on, and eating, dessert creations, assorted food stations and entertainment provided by DJ Dave’s Karaoke & Entertainment Services.

McHugh said the dessert contest is a “public favorite” in this growing event.

Proceeds from the evening go to benefit the chamber’s various scholarship opportunities.

“We’re stepping up our game for our emphasis on education,” McHugh said.

The money goes to augment a scholarship endowment at the College of Southern Maryland, as well as supplying for the annual $3,000 check the chamber gives the college every year. There are also five scholarships given out to graduating high school seniors who are planning to go into business classes.

The five scholarships can be used for any school, McHugh said.

For more information, or to make a reservation, visit www.chocoloversaffair.com or call 410- 535-2577. Tickets are $85 per person and $150 per couple, or $125 per person at the door. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

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Thursday, January 19, 2012

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Slaughenhoupt’s Budget Idea Shot Down

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer During a Jan. 10 Board of County Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Evan K. Slaughenhoupt, Jr., introduced a motion for the county to go to a zero-based budgeting process. The motion had the support of Commissioner Pat Nutter, who seconded the motion, but it failed to get any support from the other three commissioners.

Commissioner Susan Shaw said the budget can be overwhelming, but zero-based budgeting will go to the level of justifying post it note purchases.

“I’m not going to support this because I don’t want to micromanage,” she said.

Commissioner President Jerry Clark said Slaughenhoupt was out of order making such a motion, but the motion did get the commissioners talking about the development of the budget, which Slaughenhoupt said was his goal.

Slaughenhoupt said he wants the commissioners to be actively involved in the formation of the budget. He said he doesn’t feel like the commissioners are doing their job if they don’t understand the process. He said there is no one budget issue that put the idea in his head.

“It’s a nagging unknown in my mind,” Slaughenhoupt said.

He said the zero-based budget style would also show the taxpayers that their money isn’t spent on things that aren’t needed, and that every dollar is accounted for.

A national government accounting association doesn’t see any problem with the way Calvert County does business. The board recognized Department of Finance and Budget Director Timothy Hayden and the rest of the finance and budget department for earning the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the National Government Finance Officers Association for the eleventh year running.

The Board also received the results from Murphy and Murphy, the independent auditors for the FY 2011 budget. The auditors found no significant errors. They said any difference in the budget as opposed to the actual spending can be credited to the estimates being affected by spending that was unforeseen when the budget was written.

Representatives from Murphy and Murphy said there were no surprises in the audit, and the county worked willingly with the auditors to provide needed information. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

Controversial Maryland Dream Act Under Fire

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer Should children of illegal immigrants be given the same access to higher education as legal Maryland residents?

That was the question posed during a forum held in Lusby this weekend on the Maryland Dream Act. Statewide voters will decide the fate of the Dream Act on Election Day after successful petitioning took the issue to the ballot.

During the first of five “The Big Conversation” meetings at Middleham and St. Peter’s Parish Hall in Lusby, a panel convened to inform voters of the pros and cons of the Maryland Dream Act. The panel included three individuals for and three against the Dream Act. In support of the act were Delegate Sheila Hoxson (D-20), Maryland Senator Victor Ramirez (D-47) and educator Elias Vlanton. Against the act were Delegate Anthony O’Donnell (R29C), St. Mary’s County repeal effort leader Matt Morgan and general council with the Immigration Reform Law Institute Mike Hethmon. The mediator for the afternoon was St. Mary’s County Professor of Philosophy Charles Stein.

“Can I ask a favor? Take your point of view and put it in your pocket,” Stein said to begin the forum.

The law gives children of illegal immigrants the chance to go to community college then a four-year college for in-state tuition, on the condition that their parents have filed taxes for the past three years, they attended an

in-state school for three years and they apply for citizenship.

Panel members’ opinions of the act ranged from seeing a need to educate these students to seeing it as unfair that they pay in state tuition when out of-state students pay outrageous fees.

After each panel members’ presentation, there was a question and answer session, with the community members’ questions written on index cards. Questions ranged from asking if education is a right or a privilege, whether there had been attempts made to compromise on the bill to what the cost will be to help get the students in question through school.

O’Donnell said opponents tried introducing amendments to the bill to make it more palatable all around, but the changes weren’t accepted. There is no changing the law now unless the citizens vote it down and it goes back to the drawing board, he said.

Joan Holmes, a Calvert County resident who attended the forum, said she signed a petition to bring the law to a statewide vote, but was not educated on the issue when petitioners came to her residence at Asbury Solomons to get signatures.

Regardless if their parents are here illegally or not, Holmes believes all students are entitled to an education.

The four follow-up sessions on the Dream Actwill be Jan. 11, 18, 25 and Feb. 1.

There will be potluck dinners beginning at 6:15 p.m. with discussion and worship beginning at 7 p.m. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

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Thursday, January 19, 2012

The Calvert Gazette

‘YouNique Vacations’ Offers First-Hand Knowledge of Destinations

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer

been to places because I go on cruise line conferences and tour resorts of the places I sell the most of.”

Now is a great time to book a summer family reunion or She had a client who wanted to go to Jamaigroup vacation on cruise lines, according to Martha Kimbro of ca for a week for under $1,000 including airfare.

YouNique Vacations. Using a travel agent to book it can save Kimbro doubted that she could find something, time, money and hassle. but did. However, she had been to this particular “The number one reason to use a travel agent is for service resort and asked the client how she felt about wakand advice,” Kimbro said. ing up to an iguana in her room.

Certified travel agents receive training from the different “She didn’t have a problem with that, but at cruise lines and destination resorts; travel and use the various least I knew enough to ask. I personally don’t like the idea of an services; participate in forums with other agents and receive dis- iguana in my bedroom,” Kimbro laughed. counts from suppliers.

Travel agents also have their client’s best interests in mind.

“I’ve had a number of clients who have looked on the In- Buying from the Internet or calling around and making arrangeternet and found the deals they wanted and then called me. I’ve ments can be risky without the knowledge of an agent, she said. been surprised at how many times I’ve been able to get them a Another of her clients ignored her advice to fly into the better deal on the exact same vacation package,” said Kimbro, cruise port a day early. He called her from the runway where who has owned her business in Lusby coming up on five years his flight was stuck. She assumed since the airplane hadn’t been now. sent back to the gate that he would eventually fly out. So she arBefore she went to work for herself, she worked for federal ranged for a taxi to drive him from Fort Lauderdale to Miami in government as an accountant. She loved to travel and to arrange the nick of time. cruises for her family and friends. When she went to book her “If I know a client is looking for something similar to what retirement cruise, her travel agent suggested she start her own they are offering and when they are offering it, I can call my clibusiness. let them know if they are willing to wait a few days, they QBH St M County TImes Half Ad:Layout 1 3/1/11 3:28 ent PM and Page 1 “I can make recommendations because I research or have can save money.”

Martha Kimbro checking out a cruise line and resort for her clients.

The ins and outs of travel insurance is another service Kimbro offers. She uses two outside insurance companies because they are more responsive to the client than the insurance offered through the airlines or cruise companies. Her partner companies are also cheaper and provide better coverage.

“Most people don’t know that their medical insurance companies don’t cover them outside the United States. They can turn an ankle or have a heart attack and they’re at the mercy of the medical providers. The cruise lines have excellent medical services, but it’s gonna cost you,” she said.

One female client found out the hard way. She had a medical emergency and she had to pay $700 immediately and give them her credit card for the rest.

For more information, call Kimbro at 410-326-2791. corrin@somdpublishing.net

MHBR No. 103

Community

The Calvert Gazette

Council to Mull Band Stage on Pier

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer North Beach Mayor Mark Frazer proposed putting a band stage at the end of the town’s fishing pier at a recent town meeting, with the idea being that the town’s economy could pick up some of the wedding business that neighboring communities in Chesapeake Beach and Harrington Harbor in Anne Arundel County have taken advantage of.

Councilman Randy Hummel said that idea had merit as long at the town limited its participation in the actual use of a band stage for weddings.

“As long as we’re not going to be planning them,” Hummel said of weddings that could take place there. “That was part of the original proposal.”

Hummel said the town would install a lower tier off the pier to ensure that residents

and visitors could still fish, however.

Hummel said that the town government could facilitate a place to hold weddings with the scenic Chesapeake Bay as a backdrop much like the neighboring communities but the town should not actually plan such events such as businesses like the Rod and Reel restaurant do in Chesapeake Beach.

“I don’t think that’s an appropriate use of government,” Hummel said. “And we’d be in direct competition with private business.”

The wedding industry is quite lucrative, Hummel said, with Harrington Harbor providing fireworks for some weddings if the parties wish to pay for them. He said there are many weddings during the spring, summer and fall months all along the beach.

“There are weddings almost every other week out there,” Hummel said.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

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Spotlight On

‘Mind-blowing Experiences’ Possible for Students in 2013

guyleonard@countytimes.net

Like Storage Wars in Your Own Back Yard

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer Fans of the cable TV show Storage Wars may find a familiar scene at Armory Road Self Storage in Prince Frederick.

As needed, every third Wednesday of the month Armory Road Self Storage auctions off units that have gone three months without rent being paid on the unit.

“It’s standard within the industry,” said Rich Bailey, owner of Marrick Self Storage, parent group of Armory Road Self Storage.

He said the proceeds form the sales go to pay the outstanding rent on the units, and the remainder, Bailey said, goes to the person who was renting the unit. He said before going to auction, every effort is made to contact the owner of the unit to give an opportunity to catch up on the rent.

Anyone is welcome to come out for auction days, and Bailey said it’s “amazing how many people show up.” Between television shows like Storage Wars and a general interest in buying and selling storage units, he said there is a “collective following.”

The facility is at capacity, Bailey said, and they have permits to build phase two of the facility, which is planned for across the street from the current location. Bailey said plans have been stalled until the fate of the old middle school property is decided. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

‘Stroke of Luck’ Raises $9,000 for Alzheimer’s Association The Chesapeake Bay Power Boat Association presented a check in the amount of $9092.21 to the Alzheimer’s Association at their monthly meeting held at The Whiskey 1803 in Annapolis.

The CBPBA kicked off the Solomons Island Grand Prix Race weekend in September with its “Stroke of Luck” golf tournament. This tournament benefited the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of CBPBA member, Matt Loiacono’s father, Elturino “Lucky” Loiacono who passed away in 2008. It was held at Chesapeake Hills in Lusby, MD on Friday, September 23, 2011 and had over 70 golfers in attendance. For additional information on the Chesapeake Bay Power Boat Association or supporting the Alzheimer’s Association, visit www.cbpba.com.

In Munich, Germany, at the Nymphenburg Palace are David Lavezzo, left, Kelly Daughtridge, Leigh Ann Schaefer, Laura Thorne, Lauren White and Tom Currier.

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer Instilling a love for traveling in students while enjoying traveling are the reasons why two Huntingtown High School teachers are recruiting for a 10-day tour in Europe during summer 2013.

Computer Science teacher Tom Currier and Science teacher Victoria Bol announced a potential tour of Florence, Rome, Paris and London in June 2013 if they can gain the commitments of enough students.

“I call it a shot-gun approach to travel,” said Currier one day during the Flex Lunch where a handful of students came to learn more about the trip. “We’ll spend three days in Rome and we’ll see everything a tourist will want to see.”

He and Bols are using E.F. Tours “the world leader in international education and student travel with 45 years of experience and schools and officers in more than 50 countries,” according to their website.

Bols said she likes this organization for a number of reasons. One is that their group from Calvert County will be paired up with another group from the United States so that students are receiving a social as well as educational experience.

Currier appreciates the company providing native language speakers who meet the group at the airport and stay with them until they return to the airport. The tour guides can bring the group to the front of lines for popular tourist in order to stay on their packed daily schedules.

“They appreciate the students’ time and help them experience as much as they can,” said Currier.

Both teachers have traveled to a number

of countries. This will be Currier’s third trip where he has been the teacher/leader. It will be Bols first, although she’s attended similar tours with adults.

Each day the students start with breakfast and the rest of the day “they will be traveling to another destination or touring.” At the end of the day they will receive dinner. All the travel expenses, accommodations, tour fees and two meals are included in the package amount paid to E.F. Tours. The kids need to bring money to purchase their own lunch and souvenirs.

The reason Currier and Bols are starting now is so that the kids can raise the money to travel. In the past the students have sold Joe Corbi’s Pizzas and asked for money in lieu of Christmas and birthday gifts.

Although the students are being recruited from Huntingtown High, it is not an official school function. The school system is aware of the program as many teachers do take students to foreign countries through similar programs.

Currier said that he likes having the ability to determine which students he’ll take. He’s not had any major incidences in his previous travels. E.F. Tours does make students and parents sign contracts agreeing to rules and behavior. If there is an infraction, the chaperones can take the student to the nearest airport and the parent is responsible for getting him/her home.

Bols talked about one of her first trips to Europe. “I saw some random thing on a hill and it blew my mind. It had been there over 3,000 years. And I understood for the first time there is more to the world than what we have here (in the U.S.)” “Kids discover that they aren’t the center of the universe,” Currier agreed. corrin@somdpublishing.net

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The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, January 19, 2012

‘Lunch is The New Breakfast’

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer The Plum Point Elementary School Parent and Teacher Association invited local Registered Dietician and Health Educator Karen Mohn to talk about packing nutritional school lunches.

On a Monday evening with snow flurries floating through the air, a dozen parents and teachers heard about nutritional guidelines for 5- to 8-year-olds and 9- to 12-year-olds regarding the middle meal of the day.

Mohn spoke to already well educated mothers about complex carbohydrates, protein, and fats. Although many in her audience were already doing the things she recommended, they did learn some things they didn’t know.

For example, she explained that the only difference in skim milk and whole milk is the amount of fat. Some moms were worried about the sugar, but learned all milk had the same amount of protein, vitamins and carbohydrates.

In fact, the skimming process actually improves the amount of calcium that children can receive.

She did agree that organic milk, regardless of the amount of fat, is safer because of link between hormones found in pasteurized milk and early development (or entry into puberty) for children. She also encouraged parents to educate their children that their need for milk lasts a lifetime.

Portion control, particularly with regard to carbs and proteins, is “one of the biggest problems.” The “plate” is replacing the “food pyramid,” according to Mohn. Now the government is recommending half the plate be covered in vegetables, one fourth in protein and one fourth in grains.

When packing a student’s lunch, she recommends making each food item fulfill a daily recommended requirement and to make the calories count. A pack of yogurt can meet the protein and vitamins.

She warned that popular “lunchables” only meet the recommendation for protein. It doesn’t meet any grain or vitamin requirements and is half of a student’s suggested sodium intake for the day.

Putting non-value foods in the body makes as much sense as “putting Kool-Aid in a premium gasoline car and expecting it to drive,” said Mohn.

While the government requires the schools to provide a full and balanced lunch, students are not required to eat it. It gets worse in middle and high school, Mohn warned the PTA. “Those Otis Spunkmeyer cookies they sell in high school are 200 calories each. They are sold three to a pack. Students will buy that and a Gatorade. They’ve eaten the recommended calories for lunch,” said Mohn.

She finished up her presentation stating the national campaign to get kids eating breakfast, and now getting them to eat healthy lunches is the “new breakfast.” corrin@somdpublishing.net

Spotlight On

School District Going Digital

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer Paper records take a lot of space. A lot of paper records take a lot of space.

Calvert County Public Schools does not have a lot of space to put the multiple back records they are required to keep.

During the Jan. 12 meeting of the Calvert County Board of Education, the board voted to approve changes to streamline language in policies pertaining to retention and disposition of records. During the meeting, the board discussed a growing need to digitalize back records.

Superintendent Jack Smith told the Calvert Gazette that the district “needs to become aggressive” in digitalizing records. Currently, much of the curriculum is online so parents

and students can check assignments and grades via the internet, but the district is working on the infrastructure needed to close the gap between past records already digitalized and current records entered automatically as digital copies.

Smith said in coming years the district may hire someone dedicated to digitalizing all records, but before that step is taken the district has to build the repositories and make space in the system. Until then, he said there are current employees who are working on the project in their spare time. Because of the confidential nature of some of the documents, whoever is working on the documents will need to be trained on procedures, Smith said. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

Superintendent Worried About Future Funding

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer Calvert County Public Schools has lost approximately 200 students since this time last year, according to Superintendent Jack Smith, which could spell trouble for state funding levels in FY 2013.

“I am worried, and I don’t know very much,” Smith said of what money might come from the state.

The most recent peak for school enrollment was 16,959 students in December 2007, and by December 2011, enrollment dropped to 16,174, Smith said, adding that the 785 less students trickled out a couple students at a time from each of the 23 schools in the district.

Unfortunately, for funding, the district is going in the wrong direction.

Smith said in the best-case scenario, to get the most funding from the state, a school district must be gaining students in a county that is losing money. In Calvert County, the number of students is slowly dropping while the county’s wealth is growing compared to neighboring counties.

“Both factors are working in the wrong direction for our schools,” Smith told the Calvert Gazette.

When the governor’s budget proposal is released, Smith will learn approximately how much money the distirct will be getting. The money the state allots for education then goes to the Maryland State Board of Education (MSDE). MSDE then distributes it to the individual counties based on a for-

mula using the wealth of the county and the number of students enrolled.

Smith said the loss of students is more attributable to the state of the economy and families moving out of the area than to the state of the school district. He said even if they lose students, the school board has not lost value in the community. He said continuing to keep up the level of service with an ever-decreasing level of funding is a challenge.

Even with worry looming over the coming budget, Smith sees some good things going on. MSDE will be applying for flexibility in the No Child Left Behind program, which Smith said will ease some of the pressure on students and staff. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

Finding New Use for Old Middle School Property

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer Since the opening of the new Calvert Middle School, there has been talk of what will be done with the old building.

At the board of County Commissioners meeting Dec. 20, a contract for $252,221 was awarded to Sun Demolition LLC out of Beltsville, with an additional $30,000 for unforeseen circumstances to demolish the middle school.

The Department of Economic Development has been working with Fore Consulting to redevelop the site and pinpoint potential uses for the property. Public Information Specialist Mark Volland said Fore Consulting has already come up with a Retail Purchasing Power and Space Demand Analysis for the property, and they will be helping the county to evaluate proposals for the use of the property and develop criteria for the proposals.

He said the existing building was deemed beyond use, necessitating the demolition of the building to allow the future owner to begin again with a fresh building.

“Calvert County seeks a unique concept for this cornerstone location, one that will set a high standard for the Prince Frederick Town Center,” the analysis states. “Given the site’s prominent frontage on Route 2/4 (Solomons Island Road) and the successful retail commercial development in the site’s immediate vicinity, retail redevelopment is one of the likely combined land uses for the site.”

The analysis also states developing the property for retail use could bring back into the county monies that are otherwise spent out of the county.

“It is estimated that if all of the “lost” retail sales (excluding food and beverage store sales) could be repatriated to Calvert County, county real property tax revenues would increase by nearly $1.9 million in fiscal year 2011-2012…” the analysis states.

The document in its entirety can be found at www.co.cal. md.us/assets/RetailAnalysisFactSheet.pdf. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, January 19, 2012

8

STORY

High School Students Benefit From Firefighter Training

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer Every year Calvert County takes an average of 20 high school students and trains them to become nationally certified basic firefighters and EMTs. The program is not offered through the public school system but through the county’s Fire-Rescue-EMS Division of the Department of Public Services.

Kimberly S. Jones, Recruitment and Retention Specialist said she goes through the high school counselors each year to tell students about the program.

A student must be 16 years-old and be able to complete all required high school graduation credits in order to be eligible for the yearlong study in firefighting and emergency medical services.

According to Jones, the county’s program follows the school calendar so that students may leave their schools and be at Huntingtown VFD to start class each day at noon. During regular school days, students attend classroom instruction and practical instruction from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. By the end of the year, they will have received 105 hours of instruction.

The first week back from winter break the students drove to La Plata’s Southern Maryland Regional Training Center for Maryland’s Fire and Rescue Institute, University of Maryland.

There some of them received their first practical experience putting out fires.

The day was sunny and the temperatures unseasonably warm, just enough nip in the air to make standing in full firefighting gear tolerable – until they went to a concrete building to fight flames.

As soon as the class gathered, Instructor Greg Dameron ran the students through a 60 second drill. They were required to put on all of their gear – from boots all the way to air flowing through their masks – in a minute.

The group circled around him with their boots in front of them, their pants already slipped over the footgear, and all of their other gear in a pile. Dameron started his stopwatch.

When the students finished dressing, they kneeled on the ground to indicate their task was complete. Another instructor checked to see if they made any errors.

One or two of the male students made it within a minute. Several students were still struggling with their gear when Dameron called time after three minutes.

“I can see some of you have practiced.

Some of you think it will come naturally. The only thing that will come naturally is the wave good-bye you’ll do as everyone else runs past you to the truck,” said Dameron.

He gave them another chance, yelling out tips along the way to make dressing faster.

During the second drill, an assistant in-

Top Row: Carolyn Quade, Shirley Mattingly and Barbara Livingston.

Bottom Row: Betty West, Steve Mattingly and Alice Kingsley

structor told one student, “This is where embers come in and burn you. Now you’ll be worried about you and not about the fire.”

The students groaned when Dameron asked if they wanted a third attempt. He agreed it was time to move onto a new task.

Dameron gave each of the five teams their initial assignments for the day, which was the fourth day fighting fires in what looked like a convection oven – a two-story concrete building with heavy metal doors and barn style windows.

The Attack team went in first to battle the flames. The Back up team went in second.

The Ventilation teams were responsible for setting up ladders and opening holes either on the top of the roof or at the windows. The Rehab team was not fighting the fire, but refilling their air tanks, drinking water, resting and getting their vital signs checked.

The Rapid Intervention Team – or RIT – was responsible for searching and rescuing any victims. Each team would rotate through each task before the end of the day.

“There will be unpredictability today because fires are unpredictable,” said Dameron.

“This is a thinking process. Everything needs to be evaluated all the time.”

Dameron acted as the Safety Officer that day, which according to Jones, is a role every firefighting event has. He instructed the students to find their PATs – Personal Accountability Tags – and put them on. Jones said these are on a board which all firefighters pull off before going out on a run and return after. They are to ensure everyone comes out of the fire.

The students also learned that their Scott bottles, or air tanks, have a device that sets off an alarm if a firefighter goes down. He has a few seconds to manually turn it off if tripped.

Otherwise it will continue sounding until he is found.

After the first run through the exercise, Nathan Taylor, PHS, said he was on search and rescue first. His team went in, found the fire in a few rooms and found a baby (doll).

Raynard Francis, NHS, said it was important to have clear communications, “make sure that your people are in the room they say they are.” He also said he learned “don’t hit fire directly but a little above. Got to keep control of the hose line. The pressure can get away from you.”

Jones agreed. She pointed out another adult volunteer at the tanker truck and said that person is in charge of regulating the pressure based on the person holding it at the time. In one case, the student firefighter was a petite female, so he’d have to adjust the pressure down.

Around the side, the ventilation team made a mistake. They placed the ladder upside down against the building. The hooks should’ve been at the top near the windows.

Dameron congratulated them, “Good catch.” But then he watched how the team handled it. “It’s a team effort. It doesn’t work for one person to do all the work and the others watch.”

Some of the students had their names in reflective Velcro on the bottoms of their jackets. Jones said this is something that each VFD does differently. However, all VFD are responsible for fitting and issuing gear to the students.

She said some students will purchase their own boots and helmets for comfort.

Students are required to work with a VFD during the year they are in class. Each department has a checklist of requirements the student will meet before the end of the year. The fire departments are another way for the students to pick up practical skills and gain experience.

In classroom they receive training in the Incident Command Structure which is the same throughout the nation. “Each seat on the truck has a different job and the students will learn every role and responsibility,” said Jones. The students have a section on Hazardous materials, basic firefighting and basic emergency medical services.

Jones said it takes a long time to train a volunteer which is why in 2001 the Board of County Commissioners put together a recruitment package for volunteer fire-rescue-EMS. The program to train the students retains about 50 percent of those trained. The package also included $50,000 a year in college scholarship for those who successfully completed the training and meet the other eligibility requirements. Jones said the money is split evenly between all the qualified applicants. The program does not require the students to pursue a degree in the fire and rescue field.

Every year, two or three students will graduate from the program and go work for a county that pays their firefighters and EMTs. And the others will either continue volunteering while they attend local colleges or work; some will go away to school but come back and pick up their volunteering later. Still others will be in Jones’ situation.

“Like, me, I was really active when I was younger, then I took a few years off to get married and have my kids. Now I’m back volunteering,” said Jones, who said there is a strong generational link to fire and rescues volunteer.

This training program is also open to adults who work shift work and can’t attend the evening training offered by the county. There were two adult women in this group of students.

Two years ago, Jones said the program produced a student who successfully competed in Skills USA – through the Career and Technology Academy. She said he started as one of three who competed from Calvert in a regional competition, went on to state and finally to Kansas City. He placed 10th and is now a paid fireman in Prince George’s County.

Jones and Dameron are already talking about which three will represent Calvert on Feb. 5 over in Charles County for the Skills USA competition.

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Zero-Based Budgeting

By Susan Shaw Calvert County Commissioner, 2nd District

TER T E to the Editor

Guest Editorial

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corner

commissioners

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Municipal Millionaires Many of The ‘1 Percent’

By Marta Hummel Mossburg

In their minds, more government is needed to make more people as affluent as those who are already enjoying a great lifestyle at someone else’s expense. That is why Gov. Martin O’Malley has been pushing billions more in spending on a federal jobs bill in his role as head of the Democratic Governors Association. It’s also why Democrats (and many Republicans) prefer to raise taxes than cut spending or restructure entitlements.

It doesn’t matter that the previous stimulus spending didn’t work as advertised. Nor does it seem to register that redistribution works only so long as there is money to take from someplace else.

Blaming Wall Street is easier and so much more fun than extirpating the root cause of financial problems plaguing our city and state and those around the country — too much spending.

The other issue is that politicians of both parties don’t want justice for Wall Street. As a Sunday “60 Minutes” piece points out, the Obama administration has prosecuted no high-ranking Wall Street executive or financial firm in the last three years. This reprieve exists despite widespread fraud and chronic misrepresentations of “too big to fail” banks’ financial health.

In fact, prosecutions of financial fraud are at a 20-year low, according to a Syracuse University study cited in the “60 Minutes” report.

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 happened.

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 take the prescription.

According to Occupy Wall Street protesters and Budget-building season is back in full swing.

Democrats, the Grinch stealing Christmas this season You have probably seen reports about the on-going is the collective corpus of bankers, hedge fund manstructural budget deficit in Annapolis and all the agers and other financial-sector bigwigs who don’t taxes and fees proposed to be raised to make the budpay their fair share in taxes. get “balance” for this year. Senator Miller told memIt’s easy to see why. They make perfect scapebers of the Chamber of Commerce that there would be goats for unemployed college graduates with lots of no new taxes except gas taxes, higher flush taxes, and debt, big-government liberals and others who want to perhaps a sales tax increase. believe a black-and-white narrative of the country’s Calvert County is in the process of finalizing financial collapse and blame someone. our budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2012 But protesters and others should hold a mirror up to themselves and check the facts on the “1 percent.”

(FY2013). I wanted to shed some light on the topic of Their stereotype does not hold, especially here. zero-based budgeting and how our County budget is Maryland has the highest percentage of millionaires crafted. of any state in the nation, according to the Census, in In the late summer, the Commissioners give the County Department large part due to the thousands of federal employees Heads some guidance about putting together their departmental budgets based with large pensions. It is also the wealthiest state in on projected budget revenues and our on-going desire to hold the line on taxes, the nation in terms of household income, due signifiand decrease taxes, if we can do so responsibly. We knew that property tax cantly to people who make money off of the federal assessments in the 1st election district (Southern end of Calvert County) were government as employees or contractors. going to come in considerably lower than three years ago. With increasing Many others earn huge salaries from hospitals needs (like for more deputies, school funding, fire and rescue equipment reand other nonprofits whose main funder is governplacement, wear and tear on buildings and parks, etc.), and decreasing revenue, ment. In Baltimore City, 33 percent of the private secthe goal to lower taxes becomes more remote, and the focus on holding the line tor is employed in a business designed not to turn a on taxes takes precedence. Consequently, we tell department heads to find a profit, compared to 8.6 percent nationally. way to do more with less, plan to forego step increases (longevity increases for And last week The Baltimore Sun reported that satisfactory work or above), and eliminate pay raises. We comb through the some Baltimore County police officers are retiring capital projects (buildings and other one time costs) to see what can be delayed with a $500,000 payout — on top of annual pension until the economy improves while still maintaining our superb quality of life. payments upwards of $150,000 per year. Maryland Based on this direction from the Commissioners, each Department Head is not the only place where this is happening. The looks at every line item in his/her budget to determine what has to be elimiphenomenon of municipal millionaires is causing finated in order to do so something new and what can be done in a less expensive nancial nightmares for cities across the country who cannot afford the large retirement benefits promised way. In other words, each Department Head starts from zero and builds his/ to government employees in better times without cuther budget to reach the goals they are tasked with achieving. This is a difficult ting core services and raising taxes. process with increasing costs, many of which are hard to predict, like fuel pricThese are the people occupying the top income es, and with the desire to implement new ideas or to deploy new technology to tiers in Maryland and across the nation and whose advance efficiency. There are a lot of unforeseen possibilities that have to be benefits ensure they will stay on top for the rest of accounted for. Once the Department Head has drafted a budget, he/she then their lives. Only a tiny fraction of private-sector workhas to defend that budget, starting again from zero, to staff in the Department ers can hope for such income and retirement security. of Budget and Finance, and especially to the Budget Officer. Proving that a But don’t hold your breath waiting for Occupy new staff person is needed, or that an expenditure will result in efficiencies, Wall Streeters or the state’s dominant party to critiis tough since the Budget Officer is striving to keep the entire budget below a cize government for making people wealthy. certain mark. Usually, a negotiation between Budget and Finance staff and the Department Head resolves differences, but every year a list of items comes to the Commissioners for resolution when Budget and Finance is not convinced and the Department Head is adamant. We are all stingy. What I have described is a Publisher Thomas McKay form of zero-based budgeting.

Associate Publisher Eric McKay Most of us probably use an example of zero-based budgeting at home or in our Editor Sean Rice businesses. We start with zero. We list our contractual obligations like mortgage and/ Graphic Artist Angie Stalcup or rent, phone, cable, electric, etc. Then we list necessities like food, medicine, doctor Office Manager Tobie Pulliam co-pays. If we have exceeded our income, we go back to ground zero and see where Advertising sales@somdpublishing.net we can cut our contractual obligations. Can we refinance the house? Eliminate cable?

Email info@somdpublishing.net Change phone carriers or plans?

Phone 301-373-4125 The other kind of budgeting is just to slice a percentage off of everything we are currently doing. So, if we are spending $100 on groceries, and we decide we are cutStaff Writers ting everything by 10%, we can only spend $90 on groceries. But we still may have Guy Leonard Law Enforcement to go back to zero to decide what groceries we feel we absolutely need and which we Sarah Miller Government, Education Corrin Howe Community, Business can pass up.

Budgeting is all about priorities and necessities. For example, we could decide Contributing Writers that we do not need to pave roads so often. For a few years, we get away without pavJoyce Baki ing, but then the road develops the kind of potholes that can only be fully repaired by Keith McGuire re-building the road completely, which is far more expensive than paving more often P. O. Box 250 . Hollywood, MD 20636 would have been. Our Public Works Director currently does not have enough money in his paving budget to pave every road in Calvert County every 20 years, the gold The Calvert Gazette is a weekly newspaper providing news and information for the residents of standard. So, he has to decide which roads must be done this year and hope that the Calvert County. The Calvert Gazette will be available on newsstands every Thursday. The paper is lowest responsible, responsive bidder will come in with a paving price that allows him published by Southern Maryland Publishing Company, which is responsible for the form, content, and to stay within his budget. Or, he may have to convince first the Finance and Budget policies of the newspaper. The Calvert Gazette does not espouse any political belief or endorse any staff and then the Commissioners that more money must be put into the paving budget product or service in its news coverage. Articles and letters submitted for publication must be signed to keep up to avoid complete road rebuilds. and may be edited for length or content. The Calvert Gazette is not responsible for any claims made I hope I have explained how zero-based budgeting works in Calvert County to by its advertisers. keep our budget structurally balanced in this economic downturn despite significantly lower property tax income.

Calvert Gazette

The Calvert Gazette

Eldridge Bowen, 92

Cecelia Brooks, 67

Eldridge M. “Popeye” Bowen, 92, of Prince Frederick, MD, a longtime resident of Tracy’s Landing and Lothian, MD passed away January 6, 2012 at Calvert Memorial Hospital in Prince Frederick.

Popeye was born December 23, 1919 in Adelina, MD, now part of Prince Frederick, to Molly (Montgomery) and Eldridge C. Bowen.

He was raised in Fairhaven, MD and lived in Tracy’s Landing for many years.

He married Patricia “Patty” Kirby on July 3, 1982 and they lived in Lothian, MD and Prince Frederick for the past year and one half. Popeye was a lifelong farmer and a truck driver with the Anne Arundel County Pubic Works Department. He also hauled loads of tobacco for many local farmers to the tobacco markets in Upper Marlboro.

Popeye was a faithful member of Friendship United Methodist Church, and a former member of Deale Volunteer Fire Department. In his leisure time, Popeye enjoyed baseball and taking bus trips to the casinos in Delaware where he liked playing the slot machines.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by six siblings. He is survived by his devoted wife Patty Bowen, daughters Margaret Dyar of Huntingtown, MD and Nancy Skinner of Stevensville, MD, and by a son Raymond Bowen of Lansing, MI. He is also survived by granddaughters Sandra Callow, Loretta Czarnomski and Bridgett Bowen, and by four great-grandchildren.

Friends and family were received at Rausch Funeral Home, Owings. A funeral service and celebration of Popeye’s life was held Wednesday January 11, 2012 at Friendship United Methodist Church, Friendship, MD. Interment followed in the church cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy in Popeye’s name may be made to Friendship UM Church, P.O. Box 72, Friendship, MD 20758.

For additional service information visit www.RauschFuneralHomes.com.

Cecelia Bowen Brooks, 67, of Prince Frederick, MD died January 14, 2012 at Solomons Nursing Center.

She was born Cecelia Marie Bowen to George Ernest and Susie Minnie (Mister) Bowen. Cecelia attended Calvert County Public and graduated from Calvert High School.

Cecelia was an accounts payable specialist with MONA Electric Company until retiring in 2008.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Paul J. Curran in 1980 and brothers George, John and Daniel Bowen Surviving are a son Lionel Ray Humphreys, daughter Karen Sue Greenborn and husband Brian, grandchildren Robert Cleveland and Austin Humphreys, brothers Paul, Lawrence, Landell, “Duck”, and Charles Bowen.

Friends may call at Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., 8325 Mt. Harmony Lane, Owings, MD on Saturday, January 21, 2012 from 2:00 – 3:00 P.M. with a service celebrating her life to follow at 3:00 P.M. Interment will be private.

Memorial contributions may be made to Christmas in April, Calvert County, P.O. Box 2761, Prince Frederick, MD 20678 or Christmas in April Prince Georges’s County, 7915 Malcolm Road, Clinton, 20735.

James Cox Sr., 80 James Leroy Cox Sr., “Jimmy,” 80, of Huntingtown, Maryland passed away on January, 10, 2012 in Auburndale, Florida.

He was born, September 9, 1931 in Prince Frederick, Maryland to Ernest Leroy Cox and Myrtle Gray Cox. He was a graduate of Calvert Senior High, Baltimore Business College, and the Army Officer’s School at Fort

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Jimmy, along with his dad, owned and operated the car and tractor business “Cox Motors” of Prince Frederick for approximately forty years. Mr. Cox was also a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Calvert County Lions Club. He was an officer of the 121st Engineer Battalion, Maryland National Guard and retired with the rank of Major (U.S. Army). He was a “founding member” of Trinity United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents Ernest Leroy Cox and Myrtle G. Cox, and by a grand daughter, Julie Cox. He is survived by his wife of fifty eight years, Olivia Sibley Cox of Huntingtown, daughters Laura Lynn Cox and Anne Kimberly Cox Cross and husband Kevin of Huntingtown, sons James L. Cox Jr. and wife Nancy, and Scott K. Cox and wife Robin of Huntingtown, grandsons Jon Cox and wife Melissa of Lusby, Kevin Greenwell and wife Tracy of Sunderland, Kyle Greenwell of Cape Coral, Florida, and Scott K. Cox II “Kenny” of Huntingtown, granddaughter Ashley Cox Dare and husband Mark of Port Republic, great-grandchildren include Koy, Lily, and Gy Greenwell, Reed and McKenna Cox, and Madison Dare.

Friends were received at Rausch Funeral Home, Owings on Sunday, January 15, 2012.

Funeral Service and celebration of Life was celebrated on Monday, January 16, 2012 at Trinity United Methodist Church, Prince Frederick. Interment followed at Central Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Calvert Hospice, P.O. Box 838, Prince Frederick, MD 20678 or at www.calverthospice.org, The American Heart Association, Mid-Atlantic Affiliate, 4217 Park Place Court, American Heart Association Building, Glen Allen, VA 23060 or Calvert County Lions Club, P.O. Box 214, Prince Frederick, MD 20678.

Dorman Fawley, Jr., 84 Dr. Dorman Walton (DW) Fawley, Jr., 84, of Lusby, Maryland died on Saturday, January 12, 2012 from complications of a stroke.

Dr. Fawley was born February 25, 1927 in Broadway, Virginia; he was the son of the late Dorman W. Fawley and Edna Cale Fawley.

After graduating from Broadway High School, Dr. Fawley joined the military and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, FL and Corpus Christi, TX. After the War, he returned to Virginia where he attended Madison College for his undergraduate degree. In 1953 he earned his doctorate in Dentistry from the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. He practiced in Arlington, VA for 36 years, where he was active in the Kiwanis Club, Northern Virginia Dental Society and Ducks Unlimited.

His love of the Chesapeake Bay brought him to Lusby, MD, where he later retired and lived for over 25 years. Dr. Fawley was an avid outdoorsman, who enjoyed fishing, duck hunting, snow skiing and golf. He could often be seen captaining his beloved boat “The Maridee” around the bay. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

10

He was preceded in death by his brothers, John and Thomas Fawley and sisters, Dorothy Dellinger and Romona Curtis.

He is survived by one sister, Jean Davies of Washington, DC, his beloved wife of 34 years, Marilyn Greer Fawley, three children from a previous marriage, Dorman Walton Fawley, III of Cincinnati, OH, Tana Fawley Leasure of Vienna, VA, and Ellen Fawley Tolbert of Lewes, DE and two step-daughters, Susan Greer O’Connell of Virginia Beach, VA, and Janet Greer Schroeder of New York City and 7 grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, January 20, 2012 at the Solomons United Methodist Church at 14454 Solomons Island Road South, Solomons, MD 20688.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the St. Leonard Volunteer Fire Department & Rescue Squad, www.slvfd.org, 200 Calvert Beach Road, St. Leonard, MD 20685.

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

Elliott Finley, 84 Elliott Campbell “Skeets” Finley, 84, of Huntingtown, MD died January 1, 2012 at his home. He was born October 3, 1927 in Washington, D.C. to Elmer George and Hulda J. (Pletzer) Finley.

Skeets served in the U.S. Army and upon being honorably discharged as a Sergeant attended Randolph-Macon College, later working for P.D. Gawltney, Jr. Co. in Smithfield, VA. In May 1955 he accepted employment with the Library of Congress and retired in September 1984 as Chief of the Central Services Division. Subsequently he worked part time in real estate, and for the past ten years shared his artistic talents with the St. Mary’s County Art Association. One of his greatest satisfactions was derived from his associations with the International Association of Lions Clubs which he joined in 1970 and where he served over 40 years, and was District Governor of District 22C from 1984 until 1985. Always eager to help, Skeets devoted his entire life trying to make life better for others.

He is survived by his wife of 55 plus years, Virgie Lorrain Dustin Finley; two brothers, Shirley H. “Jack” Finley and wife Helen of Smithfield, VA and Elmer E. Finley and wife Barbara of Lakeland, FL, and one sister Dorothy V. Ferruzza and husband Anthony of Frederick, MD. Also surviving are seven cherished nieces and one nephew; seven great-nieces and seven great-nephews and their children, and many special friends and caregivers.

A memorial visitation was held Friday, January 6 at Rausch Funeral Home, Owings, MD, where a Memorial Service was held, followed by a Lions Service.

Expressions of sympathy in Mr. Finley’s name may be made to Calvert Hospice, P.O. Box 838, Prince Frederick, MD 20678, online at www.calverthospice.org, or to RandolphMacon College, P.O. Box 5005 Ashland, VA 23005. For additional information visit www.

RauschFuneralHomes.com.

11

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, January 19, 2012

David Jaeger, 37 David Paul Jaeger, 37, of Washington, Pennsylvania, passed away on January 8, 2012.

He was born on May 8, 1974 in Seoul, Korea to Robert and Ursula Jaeger.

David is survived by his parents, siblings; Jonathan (Linda) Jaeger, Anna (Charles) Patrick, and Nicholas (Brenna) Jaeger; nephews, Elijah Jaeger, Julian Patrick, and Adrain Patrick; nieces, Victoria and Sophia Patrick.

The family received friends on Saturday, January 14, 2012 in the St. John Vianney Catholic Church, Prince Frederick, MD where a Funeral Service was held, with Fr. Peter Daley officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery. Arrangements provided by Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., Lusby, MD.

er. In her leisure time Arlene enjoyed reading, gardening, and also adored her pets.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and is survived by her devoted husband Bill Krystopik, her daughter Lori Frame and husband Phillip of Huntingtown, her son Scott Krystopik of Orlando, FL, grandchildren Christopher Redding and Leanna and Madison Frame, all of Huntingtown, and sisters Lola Johnson of Ft. Washington, MD and Carol Robbins of West Palm Beach, FL. Friends were received on Thursday January 12, 2012 at Huntingtown United Methodist Church, 4020 Hunting Creek Road, Huntingtown, MD, where a funeral service and celebration of Arlene’s life followed. Interment was at Miranda Cemetery in Huntingtown.

For additional information visit www. rauschfuneralhomes.com.

Arlene Krystopik, 71 Arlene Jeanette Krystopik, 71, of Huntingtown, MD passed away January 4, 2012 at the Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. Arlene was born February 20, 1940 in Washington, D.C. to Ferrell W. and Anna D. (Milner) Oden.

She was raised in Coral Hills, MD and was a graduate of Suitland High School, class of 1958. She married Walter S. “Bill” Krystopik April 18, 1960, and they lived in Washington, D.C. until moving to Brandywine, MD in 1968 and to Huntingtown in 1976. Arlene was employed as a secretary with the Department of Agriculture for several years and later as a receptionist at Calvert Memorial Hospital in Prince Frederick, MD but was primarily a homemaker, wife, mother and grandmoth-

Alice Nobles, 85 Alice Joyce Nobles, 85, of Prince Frederick, MD, passed away January 11, 2012 at Calvert Memorial Hospital in Prince Frederick, MD. Joyce was born September 4, 1926 in Kinston, NC to John and Josephine (Tilghman) Gardner. She received her education in North Carolina public schools and attended Columbia Union College in Takoma Park, MD. She was employed as a subject cataloger with the Library of Congress, retiring in 1988. Joyce resided in Suitland until moving to Prince Frederick in 1996. She was a member of Pennsylvania Avenue Seventh Day Adventist Church and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees. She was an avid reader and enjoyed

making gourmet chocolates for her family and friends.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents and a brother Johnny Ray Gardner. Surviving are her son Terry Nobles and his wife Betty of Dunkirk, MD, grandson David Nobles and his wife Jennifer of Huntingtown, a great-granddaughter Lexi Nobles and a great-grandson Chase Nobles, brothers Jesse Gardner and his wife Annie Mae of New Bern, NC, Joel Gardner and his wife Jessie of Vienna, VA, Jeffrie Gardner and his wife Sandra of New Bern, NC, sisters Jacqueline Willis of New Bern, NC, Jonquil Lanier of Chattanooga, TN, Joan Finch, Lansing, MI, Juliette Church and her husband Charles of Kirkland, WA, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Friends were received at Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., in Owings on Saturday, January 14, 2012. A Funeral Service and Life Celebration were held 2:00 P.M. Sunday, January 15, 2012 at Smithville United Methodist Church, Dunkirk. Interment followed at Smithville Cemetery.

Lloyd Wenger, Jr., 65 Lloyd Owen Wenger, Jr., 65, of St. Leonard, MD, passed away peacefully on January 6, 2012 at his residence. He was born on August 16, 1946 in Washington, D. C. to Pauline Celeste Throop Wenger and the late Lloyd Owen Wenger, Sr. Lloyd graduated from Lackey High School, Indian Head, MD, in 1964; Charles County Community College in 1976, earning an Associate of Science Degree; Lloyd graduated from the University

of Maryland in 1978 earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, with an emphasis on Solar Engineering. Among many awards he received was the May Fauth Award for Engineering and Math. From 19641966 he worked as an Apprentice Machinist at the Naval Ordinance Station, Indian Head Maryland. Lloyd proudly served in the United States Navy from 1966-1972, with assignments to: The USS Forrestal, the USS Robert E. Lee and the USS Ray. During this tenure in US Navy submarine service, he served in many strategic and critical capacities aboard nuclear powered submarines. In 1972, Lloyd began his dedicated career at Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, BG&E, serving initially as Senior Plant Operator then followed from 1978-2011 as Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, utilizing his extensive design and operations experience in the Nuclear Power industry.

Lloyd is survived by his beloved wife Kathie Jean Wenger; children, Karla Celeste Wenger, Lloyd Owen Wenger III, David Justin Paulos, Kathryn Jean Paulos and Kristina Lauren Paulos of St. Leonard, Md.; mother, Pauline Celeste Throop Wenger; brother Paul D. Wenger and his wife Marlene of NC; sistersin-law, Noel Hiotis of Washington, D. C. and Nancy Mountain of Hughesville, MD. The family received friends at the Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., 20 American Lane, Lusby, MD on Thursday, January 12, 2012, were services celebrating his life were held. Calvert Hospice Chaplain, Pastor Gerry Headley officiated. Interment services were held on Friday, January 13, 2012 at 11:00 AM in the chapel at Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Cheltenham, MD. Should friends desire memorial contributions may be made in Lloyd’s memory to Calvert Hospice, P. O. Box 838, Prince Frederick, MD 20678, Donations are encouraged online at www.calverthospice.org.

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

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The Calvert Gazette

ner

KiddKioer

CLUES ACROSS

1. Winter capital of Kashmir 6. So. African Music Awards 11. The Bay State 14. A disorderly crowd 15. Actress Greta 16. Expression of surprise 18. Storybook elephant 21. John Jacob __, capitalist 23. Mulled wine 25. Membrane around the lungs 26. Shows how something works 28. Cannonized 29. Layers bonded together 31. A vessel or duct 34. The fire had been ___ 35. Female sibling 36. Israeli capital 39. Blocked in fencing 40. 98942 WA 44. Gasoline hydrocarbon rating 45. Light snacks with drinks 47. Supplementing with difficulty 48. Am. composer & diarist Ned 50. A waterproof raincoat 51. Accumulate a large

Thursday, January 19, 2012

quantity 56 Am. Newspaper Assoc.

57. Butterfly collector 62. __ and Venzetti 63. Female servants

CLUES DOWN

1. Poked at 2. Equally 3. Manuscript (abbr.)

4. Periodical (slang) 5. Fiddler crabs 6. Hero sandwich 7. Volcanic mountain in Japan 8. Of I 9. Indicates position 10. Legislative acts 11. Low sustained cry 12. 60 minutes (abbr.)

13. Supported by a prop 14. Megabyte 17. 9/11 Memorial designer Michael 19. The years someone has existed 20. Distilled from fermented molasses 21. a.k.a.

22. Estonian kroon = 100

12

24. The sun 25. Wide metal cooking vessel 27. Caesar or cobb 28. Building lots 30. 1/1000 inch 31. Apexes 32. Firth of Clyde’s largest island 33. Bringing suit 36. Forsyth novel “The Day of the ___” 37. Perceive with the eyes 38. Was introduced to 39. Lines of verse 41. Household god (Roman) 42. Military mailbox 43. Challenge aggressively 46. Posted 49. One thousandth of an ampere 51. General’s assistant, abbr.

52. Bovine sound 53. Associated press 54. Opposite of LTM 55. A very large body of water 58. Ma’s partner 59. Integrated circuit 60. Rhode Island 61. Potato state

Last Week’s Puzzle Solutions

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Thursday, January 19, 2012

The Calvert Gazette

Autoimmunity & Why the Body Attacks Itself

By Debra Meszaros MXSportsNutrition.com It is an important fact that most physicians do not realize that hidden food sensitivities may be the leading cause of most bodily symptoms. Often foods portrayed as “healthy” for the general population, may indeed be poison to someone. Our biochemical uniqueness may make one individual sensitive to any particular food, good or bad.

Undiagnosed food sensitivities affect more than half the population and almost everyone has at least one. Many people do not even realize they have a food sensitivity, or that their symptoms are being caused by one. Unless you are looking for one, you may not find it. Food sensitivities do a great job of masking themselves as other aliments, conditions and diseases, leaving plenty of room for misdiagnosis.

There are two basic types of food sensitivities: Food allergy is an unnatural immune reaction to a specific protein in that food.

The body’s reaction is to build antibodies against the specific protein it sees as an invader. Unfortunately this reaction can go as far as creating damage to nearby tissue as well as many other side effects.

Food intolerance is the body’s inability to digest or metabolize a particular food which makes it a metabolism issue not immunity. This is usually linked to the body’s lack of a particular enzyme.

If you are allergic to a food you have zero tolerance and any amount will trigger a reaction but not necessarily an obvious one.

The most telltale sign of food sensitivity is chronic fatigue as well as other signs like: muscle spasms, excess mucus, low resistance to infection, poor absorption of nutrients and “problems” in “target” organs.

“Target” organs would be that person’s genetic weaknesses or biochemical individuality. Psychological and behavioral symptoms are often a result when the “target” organ is the brain.

How can you tell?

Standard allergy testing (skin pricks) often do not reveal the sensitivity (said to be only 20 percent reliable). This procedure also only works with food allergies but not food intolerances.

Seeking the help of a professional focusing on food sensitivities and intolerances may be a better option. Some of the tools often used by these practitioners are: a daily food journal, pulse testing, blood pressure readings or the use of biofeedback to identify stressors.

Here are some common possible symptoms: Chronic fatigue, awaken not feeling rested, fatigue not helped by rest, food addictions/cravings, swollen lymph glands, chronic infections……

Chronic diarrhea, spastic colon, irritable bowel, colitis, ulcerative colitis, catch colds easily, bed-wetting, hives or welts, eczema, psoriasis, migraines, hyperactivity, recurring ear infections…..

Visual signs can be dark circles under the eyes, puffiness under the eyes and horizontal creases in lower eyelids.

Sensitivities are often linked to: asthma, hay fever, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, inflammation, hot flashes, swelling of the ankles, gas, constipation, heartburn, bloating and arthritis. Additionally; ringing in the ears, excessive ear wax, sore throat or tongue, canker sores, itchy eyes, sneezing, nervousness…get the picture?

Want to take charge of your own health? In most cases here’s where one would start: Top triggers are: MSG, BHT, BHA, food colorings and sulfites. Read the labels of the foods you consume and eliminate them.

Then there’s the actual foods…………diary and cereal grains the top two.

Here’s the most reactive general list: Cow’s milk, lactose, wheat, gluten, eggs, chocolate, caffeine, peanuts, nuts, corn, oranges, strawberries, shellfish, pork, fish, soy/tofu, sucrose (table sugar), the nightshades: tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, paprika, cayenne, chili, eggplant & tobacco.

Tyramine (found in aged cheeses), red wine…. other substances: nitrates, nitrites, aspartame (artificial sweeteners), all benzonates and sulphites (a preservative which can be found in salad bars!).

Guess what usually happens when you eat the same foods day after day?

You guessed it! That’s where you’d start to track down your personal sensitivity culprits and remember food sensitivities tend to occur in clusters; a person rarely has just one. Sometimes a person can have a food sensitivity to a food in raw state but not in a cooked state. Some reactions are immediate and some take hours or days to surface.

Why those foods?

Food like all other materials in our world, have their own unique energy. The body has the amazing ability to identify what is present in your body by an energy signature. Therefore when you eat an apple, the body knows it’s an apple. When a food is consumed it takes about 4 days before all materials and energies of that food are no longer present within the body. If you are constantly eating the same food day after day or, within that 4 day span, the properties and energy of that food seem to never leave the body. The body often begins to react by identifying that food as an “invader” and may build antibodies against it. This action creates a food allergy reaction which affects the surrounding tissues of the body and inflammation, irritation and degenerative properties seem to increase.

Food allergies and intolerances play a major role in many conditions and are entwined with many different functions of the body. Keep an eye open for next weeks article when I will provide additional information on how these foods may be tied to many dysfunctions and conditions.

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.

Debra Meszaros

is a Certified Sports Nutritionist and Biofeedback practitioner with further educational studies in Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Orthomolecular 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.

Newsmakers Local United Way Has Kept Pace with National HQ For 20 years

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer The United Way of Calvert County has “kept up with the trends of the national organization. What was good for them was good for us. We didn’t let size stop us from doing what is right,” according to CEO Kelly Chambers.

This is a highlight of the 20-year history of the organization within the county, according to Chamber’s recent discussion with the Calvert Gazette.

The agency started off with one fulltime employee, a part-time (10 hours) employee and donated space from the Board of Education.

Chambers was the part-time employee. She provided administrative assistance while she was attending school.

She laughed. “Twenty years later and I’m still working on my degree.”

The time out she took from her college to marry and raise two children Chambers, CEO of the United Way of didn’t reflect in the United Way, “which Kelly Calvert County. never stopped or stayed still.”

When Chambers took over as CEO in 1999, the organization had just purchased the United Way House, opened the Volunteer Center and received – for the first time ever – two grants totaling $360,000. The grants started ‘Success by Six’ and ‘Healthy Families.’

One of the first things Chambers had to do as the new CEO was “go to my board and tell them we needed to hire a financial person because accounting wasn’t my strong suit.”

Prior to then, Chambers remembered when she first started she had a ledger book and had to handwrite all the checks and account balances. Administering grant money demanded an entirely different level of accountability and paperwork.

Now the county’s United Way has four full-time and one part-time staff. Currently the agency has a number of different funds to allocate to 32 programs/agencies within the network of the county’s charitable organizations.

“The way we do business has changed dramatically,” said Chambers.

Originally all the agencies hoping to receive money had to submit an annual application. Now “there is much more accountability.”

“Our outcome measurement was difficult for the agencies to swallow. But we taught them how to do it and they all caught on. Now they say they are better agencies because of it,” Chambers said.

Another recent change has been to award money to where the needs in the county lie. In 2010, the Chambers’ agency conducted an extensive needs assessment which included forums and surveys of leaders, donors and agencies.

“It got everyone talking about the issues in depth. We got to the core issues.

The root causes. We talked about how people not being able to pay their electric bill is really because they never learned to balance a checkbook,” Chambers said.

Now the United Way is focused on three areas: education, income and health.

‘Calvert Can’ is a countywide health initiative to address overweight/obesity.

“Why are people overweight? Do they have access to healthy foods and fitness programs?”

Chambers is excited to see how organizations like the Arc of Southern Maryland, which didn’t apply for funding, works with other agencies that did receive funding for ‘Calvert Can.” Another example of collaboration from the community is Northern High School’s Future Business Leaders of America club, who didn’t ask for any United Way funding but is helping to address financial illiteracy in the county.

“The hardest thing about my job is for people to understand what United Way does,” said Chambers. “When I’m done talking they’ll say, ‘I didn’t know United Way did all that!’”

The other source of great pride is “The Day of Caring” which Chambers brought to the county. “Ever year at the kick-off ceremony I tell everyone that it is my favorite day of the year. And it is. I pass along the passion to my staff, who take it and run with it.” corrin@somdpublishing.net

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, January 19, 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.

Southern Maryland Sounds: New Tunes, New Artists Sam Grow Single To Hit iTunes Soon

Local Rapper ‘Hell’s Imigrent’ Finds Escape Through His Rhymes

Photo by Mike Batson

By Carrie Munn Staff Writer One of Southern Maryland’s local rising stars, The Sam Grow Band, took a short break from their steady shows last week to record a new single, “Shot of Crown”.

The new song will be available Jan. 25 for download on iTunes for $0.99.

Frontman Sam Grow said the group is hoping to top previous single releases that hit numbers 13 then 7, respectively, on the top downloaded singles under the singer-songwriter genre in iTunes.

Grow, along with bassist Gene Quade, lead guitarist Mike Stacey and drummer Joe Barrick, went into Nightsky Studios in Waldorf with the help of producer Ron Vento, and crafted “Shot of Crown.”

The song is a personal one, Grow explained, as the inspiration came from listening to a recently-divorced friend with a penchant for Crown Royal tell him that try as he might, he wasn’t able to drown out the problems with alcohol.

Grow said it may be considered a cross-over tune, calling it a hybrid of pop, soul and country that was well-received by local radio stations.

Many loyal fans may find the tune familiar, as Grow said it became referred to as the secret song by fans catching acoustic shows, where the band would often play and hone the tune prior to taking it to the studio.

He said that while releasing singles is a bit of a throwback idea, in the new age of iTunes and other Internet-based music retailers, doing well at it draws a great deal of attention.

Grow said he continues to be grateful for the packed houses the band plays to and the overwhelming responses they get via Facebook.

“We’re very, very blessed,” he said.

The band will be traveling out of state often in 2012, but aims to continue playing shows in St. Mary’s, Calvert and Charles counties each month and local acoustic shows as well. Grow said the group is working on its next album and hopes to write and record in the studio.

Grow said that for his birthday on Jan. 21, the best present you could give him is to buy “Shot of Crown” four days later. For more information about The Sam Grow Band, visit their webpage at www. samgrowband.com.

Edgy rapper “The Great H.I.” hales from Southern Maryland and offstage goes by the name Dale Lokey. He was born in Prince George’s County but grew up around Piney Point in St. Mary’s.

Lokey said he developed his love of music during a difficult time in his life, as he and his mother moved from motel to motel to escape an abusive father. Music became an escape for him, he explained, then, as a teenager he got the chance to “spit a few rhymes” for a local rap artist he looked up to, named Soul B. The next thing he knew, Lokey said, he was signed to his label, Ill Soul Productions, and has since released his first 13-track release titled “Wud Dup Y’all” and is currently working on a follow up.

Lokey said the H.I. stands for “Hell’s Imigrent” and his brand of horrorcore hip-hop contains explicit content. He credits such musical influences as the Insane Clown Posse, DMX and Billy Idol for influencing him to use music as an outlet.

His first album has sold more than 300 copies, he said. To check out the intense musical stylings and get more information on this local rap artist, check out www.reverbnation.com/dlthegreathi.

Country Up and Comers The Justin Crenshaw Band, based in La Plata, has been together about three short months, but has already become a busy group, playing gigs around Southern Maryland. With Justin Crenshaw on guitar and vocals and father and son George Habicht, Jr. and George Habicht, III playing drums and bass, the trio said they play modern country, with classic and southern rock thrown in the mix.

The elder Habicht has been playing music for a long time. He first made a name with Southern Express in the ‘80s and prior to the formation of the current lineup, played with his son in a group called Twisted Up. He also owns George’s Custom Painting in La Plata, but said he’s happy to be playing music often.

Crenshaw explained he met his bandmates at an open mic night, after he and the younger Habicht had talked about music via Facebook. Shortly after, Crenshaw was invited to open up for Twisted Up and the group evolution naturally occurred from that point forward.

Crenshaw said he had been working as a solo artist and

was happy to have met the Habichts, which allowed him to really take it to the next level. He said he recently scaled back the hours at his day job since the music has kept them quite busy.

As a group, they have built a buzz about a great live show that often ends with the musicians swapping instruments, taking turns singing and showcasing their multiple talents.

Photo by Mike Batson Local energy drink company Bully Bling recently became a sponsor of the group, helping them book more venues throughout the tri-county area.

All three members of the band said folks don’t need to be country fans to enjoy their shows – audiences at a variety of venues have taken to their brand of music.

The group said while they’ve drawn interest playing covers, they hope to eventually work on some original tunes. The younger Habicht, “Georgie,” books the gigs and can be reached by email at JustinCrenshawBand@gmail. com. Visit the Justin Crenshaw Band Facebook page for more information and check the entertainment calendar for upcoming shows by this up-and-coming local band.

Local Band Evolves, Keeps On Rockin’ Local performers known as The Nuttin Fancy Band have announced the group is moving forward with new members and new music under the new band name R & R Train. The group features Tommy “Tex” Bowles; custom percussion and vocals, Cheyenne Wilson; on guitar and vocals, Jimmy

Thompson; also a guitarist and singer, Mark Uncle; providing vocals and bass and Ed Emery on drums.

The St. Mary’s County based quintet plays classic and Southern rock and is comprised of musicians with various backgrounds and influences ranging from Pantera to Hank

Williams, Jr. and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

This new lineup will play their first show Jan. 28 at the Gridiron Grill in Callaway. Watch for future dates on The County Times’ weekly entertainment schedule. carriemunn@countytimes.net

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Sp rts

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, January 19, 2012

So Now What?

Fur and Feathers

By Keith McGuire Contributing Writer As the hunting season winds down and we begin to reacquaint ourselves with our wives and other family members, our spare time starts to fill with activities that are unrelated to hunting and fishing. There are a few things happening, though, that we might find interesting to fill the time and help us maintain our focus on outdoor sports in spite of the less than comfortable weather and closed seasons.

The Southern Maryland Chapter of the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association is having their monthly meeting tonight (Jan 19th) at 7:00 PM at the Solomons Fire Hall. The guest speaker will be Ken Lamb, proprietor of The Tackle Box, who will discuss the best lures to use for catching specific types of fish. The meeting is open to the public.

The Patuxent River Chapter of the Coastal Conservation

Association, Maryland will have their second Anglers’ Night Out on Monday January 23rd, from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m., at The Ruddy Duck Brewery and Grill in Solomons. This event features the film “Stripers Gone Wild” that explores the environment and feeding habits of our favorite recreational fish. Again, the public is invited.

Now is a good time to renew your fishing license for 2012 because your 2011 fishing license expired with the beginning of the New Year. Don’t be caught short when a quick trip for yellow perch or white perch comes up.

CCA Maryland is sponsoring a catch and release “Pickerel Challenge” January 15 through March 15, so there are fishing opportunities. If you’re interested in the Pickerel Challenge, details are available at www.ccamd.org.

On top of that, the Baltimore Boat Show opens today (Jan 19th) and runs through the weekend. Lots more shows, meetings, flea markets and outdoor events will be happening in the weeks to come. But….it is still hunting season!

Die hard deer hunters can pursue whitetail deer in our region with a vertical bow or crossbow until Jan. 31. If you really get into pulling a bow string in freezing temperatures, now is the time for you!

The upland game (like rabbits and crows) and certain forest game (like squirrels) seasons continue through next month (check State regulations). Hardy hunters who are not into waterfowl, but like to hunt cold conditions enjoy these times afield and in the woods.

And, then there’s the waterfowl season. The late season for most species of ducks and geese continues through the end of the month. I’m getting reports that the migration of ducks through the area is light this year compared to previous years, but there are a few decent flocks of Canada Geese to fill the void.

A View From The

Bleachers

By Ronald N. Guy Jr. Contributing Writer

“I don’t love tennis…I’ve actually never liked sports…I don’t like working out, I don’t like anything that has to do with working physically.”

We’ve heard these expressions before. Usually they’re delivered, in a similar form, courtesy of the attractive woman seated across the table. The words land with the subtlety of a left hook to the jaw because, for a foolish but fleeting moment, we had hoped that beyond her beauty and intelligence was a fellow sports fanatic. We had designs on Sunday’s at the stadium, not the mall and hours of fixed sports viewing without irritated urgings for more produc-

tive behaviors. This time the words came under entirely different circumstances and from an unbelievable source: tennis great Serena Williams.

Huh? Serena Williams, 13-time Grand Slam winner, doesn’t love tennis and never liked sports? Wow, that was unexpected.

I think. The Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, have never been conventional. They hail from Compton, CA, which isn’t exactly a rich mine of tennis players. While professional tennis is diverse, the Williams’ are two of the few and by far the most dominant – currently and of all time - African American players. The sisters dress flamboyantly – using the tennis court as their own personal fashion runway – and, to their critics displeasure, take time away from the game to indulge their other considerable interests.

Another uncommon trademark of the Williams’ is their penchant for brutal honesty. The sisters, and especially Serena, rarely leave you questioning their true feelings. That has been mostly an admirable trait, especially in a sports world now littered with demi-heroes, but this time the

2011 Winter Snow Goose Adventure

On the Eastern Shore, snow geese are cooperating for some of the professional guides. I’ll be heading that way next month to celebrate Ground Hog Day when I hope to shoot enough snow geese to fill the freezer until fishing season starts. The “Light Goose Conservation Order Season” continues until April 14th. The only place to find really abundant populations of these birds is on the big farms on the Eastern Shore. I’ve seen the cover crop on 400 acre farm fields reduced to mud, goose footprints, feathers and scat after the snow goose flocks come through. I completely understand why unplugged shotguns and an unlimited bag limit are the rule for this season.

So, there’s always something going on that will tweak the pleasures we get from the outdoors. All we have to do is find them!

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

On Second Thought lightly filtered connection between Serena’s thoughts and her spoken words delivered a message that sounded spoiled, arrogant and unappreciative. In an economic period marked by debilitating debt, recession and high unemployment, Serena sounded disconnected from and ignorant of the “real world.” With honesty as her guide, she simply went too far this time.

On second thought, maybe she didn’t.

There is much lost in translation between fans - those with an external view of the sports world - and professional athletes – those with an inability to understand or, at times, even be sensitive to just how different life is for those on “the outside.” I admit, I lost Serena’s point…initially… but it’s clearer now. Serena plays tennis because she can and always has. It’s just what she does. She doesn’t love it, though.

Maybe she did at some point, but not now, not anymore. This may seem remarkable, but it’s not; she’s neither the first athlete nor the first tennis player to lose that loving feeling. Michael Jordan, John Riggins and John McEnroe all temporarily broke up with (stepped away from) the sports that were once their heartthrobs.

During the same exchange when Serena disavowed her love of tennis and expressed her dislike of physical activity, she also offered this about the game that sup-

plied her fortune and fame: “I can’t live without it.” For Serena, playing tennis now is about what it affords her, not the game itself. That take on whatever it is that butters your bread should sound very familiar. Few people are fortunate enough to wake up daily and pursue their true passion. Fewer still maintain their affection for said pursuit after it becomes their source of sustenance.

A job, by its very nature, is something we have to do – to maintain the things we need (a residence, food, health insurance) and acquire the things we want (the occasional indulgences) – and anything done out of obligation is bound to be less pleasurable than undertakings born from personal choice.

That’s a basic tenet of human nature and one that holds true whether you’re a civil servant, small business owner or professional tennis player.

Serena’s remarks initially seemed like more elitist dribble from another millionaire athlete that couldn’t possibly be more detached from those occupying much lower tax brackets. After further review, and rather ironically, she may have never said anything that more closely connects with everyday life and the countless jobs performed not out of love but because we can’t live without them.

Send comments to rguyjoon@yahoo.com

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