2012-02-16 Calvert Gazette

Gazette Calvert

February 16, 2012

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Everything Calvert County

Firefighter Picked For ‘Biggest Loser’ Resort Page 8

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, February 16, 2012

On T he Cover

Also Inside

3 County News 7 Business 7 Community 8 Feature Story 9 Newsmakers 10 Obits 11 Education 12 Games 13 Letters 14 Entertainment 15 Fishing

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Monk Wells with his son, Mason. Wells coached his son in flag football last year despite his concern over not being able to do the things he asked of his players. “I needed to stop hiding.�

entertainment

Last comic standing veterans Tammy Pescatelli and Jeff Maurer will be coming to Calvert County for a one-night stand during the fourth annual Comedy Invasion for Project Gradation this Saturday.

education

the Bowie Baysox QBH St M County TImes Half Ad:Layout 1Louie, 3/1/11 3:28 PM mascot, Page 1greets Our Lady Star of the Sea School students after performing a skit on why he chose baseball as his favorite sport.

MHBR No. 103

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The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, February 16, 2012

High-Speed Chase Ends in Calvert

O’Donnell Calls Hoyer’s Comment ‘Imbecilic’

Photo by Sean Rice In this image, damage can be seen on the front end of a Calvert Sheriff’s vehicle and at the rear of Wood’s pickup truck caused by a PIT maneuver.

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer A high-speed chase that went up to 100 miles an hour involving a suspect from Hollywood traversed three counties before state troopers and Calvert County sheriff’s deputies ended it in the northern portion of the county last week.

The suspect, Ronald Edward Wood, 52, netted a total of 28 charges, including driving under the influence of drugs, numerous speeding violations, negligent and reckless driving and running a red light, according to the arresting trooper.

Trooper First Class Joseph Wilson, stationed in Upper Marlboro, began the chase in Prince George’s County when Wood passed him at a high rate of speed.

“I caught up with him and he was doing 95 miles an hour,” Wilson said, adding that Wood refused to pull over despite the troopers emergency lights ordering him to.

“He just continued to do 95,” the trooper told the Calvert Gazette.

The chase stopped initially at Town Center Boulevard in Dunkirk, Wilson said, when Wood stopped at the traffic signal; but when Wilson tried to block Wood in the suspect allegedly sped off, ignoring his orders to come out of the vehicle.

The chase continued until additional units from the Calvert sheriff’s office intercepted Wood and used what is called a

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St. Mary’s College of Maryland, said that Hoyer is correct but not passing a budget is a poor way to do business.

By Guy Leonard “He is technically corStaff Writer rect, they can continue to operate without a budget,” said The Republican chalEberly. “It’s not a good way lenger running to unseat to do it.”

House Minority Whip Steny Passing continuing H. Hoyer slammed the veteran resolutions is a way for both representative for comments Del. Anthony O’Donnell parties to criticize the budmade in the press that passing gets of any president without a federal budget is unnecessary to continue running actually putting out their own budgets for equally the country. tough scrutiny, Eberly said.

In a recent article on the conservative website It is a political reality at the federal level, he CNSNews.com, Hoyer was quoted as saying: “The said, because any budget that deals with the deficit fact is you don’t need a budget. We can adopt appro- and crippling national debt would be unpopular. priations bills. We can adopt authorization policies “Our finances are so bad that it would be imwithout a budget. We already have an agreed-upon possible to put forward a responsible budget without cap on spending.” angering people,” Eberly said.

Del. Anthony O’Donnell (R-Dist. 29C) called Congress passed the Budget Impoundment Hoyer’s comments “imbecilic” in a statement from and Control Act in 1974 to take back power from the his campaign. executive branch when it came to the budgeting pro“It is no wonder our debt is now over $16 tril- cess, Eberly said, but failing to pass a budget diminlion dollars. Our congressman failed to pass a bud- ished confidence in Congress’s ability to govern. get when he was House Majority Leader with a “It doesn’t encourage long term planning or Democratic senate and president and now we know discipline and it doesn’t encourage confidence with why,” O’Donnell stated, accusing Hoyer of wanting foreign investors or credit ratings agencies,” Eberly a “blank check” for favored programs. said.

Hoyer was quoted in the original story as sayMaureen Beach, spokesperson for Hoyer, said ing that Republicans failed to pass budgets in 2005 that congress has already acted to control spending. and 2006 but O’Donnell fired back by saying GOP “Congress passed the Budget Control Act in members did pass bills in those years.

August, which set our budget for this fiscal year,” Todd Eberly, a professor of political science at she said.

PIT (pursuit intervention technique) maneuver to stop the fleeing vehicle.

In a PIT maneuver, police ram the rear end of a vehicle in pursuit in a certain manner that causes the vehicle to spin around 180 degrees, causing the driver to stop.

“They pitted the car for the safety of others on the road,” Lt. Steve Jones, commander of the Calvert Investigative Team said.

Wilson said when officers finally brought an end to the chase, Wood gave up without much of a struggle but seemed confused and incoherent. A Calvert Gazette reporter was on the scene, and witnessed numerous officers ordering Wood out of the vehicle with their guns drawn.

Field tests showed he had no alcohol in his system but a drug recognition expert called to the scene suspected that he was under the influence of drugs, Wilson said.

The chase went through Prince George’s Anne Arundel and finally Calvert, police said, with 12 of the 28 charges against Wood coming from Calvert. guyleonard@countytimes.net

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COUNTY NEWS

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Speed Cameras Go Up in Chesapeake Beach

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Speed enforcement cameras made their debut in Chesapeake Beach on Feb. 10 after months of planning, said Town Administrator James Parent, in an effort to curb speeders as they come upon Beach Elementary School.

Parent said that the hill just before the entrance into town often forces people to increase their speed to crest it, but that can cause them to break the 30-mile-per-hour limit there.

“They go over that hill speeding … and all of a sudden you’re in a school zone,” Parent said.

Calvert County sheriff’s deputies were on station with the speed cameras last week testing them against their radar sensors and, Parent said, they functioned properly.

Though the cameras were installed on the side of the road in a very visible position, motorists will still have 30-days before the

4

Judge Compares Hurricane Insurance Decision to Godzilla Attack

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

Allstate Insurance Company won its bid in the Court of Apcameras will take pictures of speeders that can be peals to continue the practice of used to dole out citations. not selling homeowners’ insur“It’s a 30-day get-used-to-it period,” Parent ance in Southern Maryland and said, adding that the pictures taken by the cameras the Eastern Shore because those go to a police review before any tickets are mailed areas lay in potential paths of exto speeders. treme magnitude hurricanes.

“If you are 12 miles over the speed limit …

The court reported recently Auto Accidents they can send you a ticket,” Parent said. “They its opinion in the case brought [defendants] have the right to go to court and the against Allstate by the state’s PeoWorkers’ comp police will go to court, too.” ple’s Insurance Counsel Division.

• Divorce/Separation Parent said he has received only one call in One of the judges wrote a separate • Support/Custody opposition to the cameras but that they have reopinion that both concurs with • Domestic Violence ceived broad support otherwise. court’s ruling but also dissents on “This has been going on since last summer • Criminal/Traffic several key points. … it’s just that it took this long to get it started The plaintiff argued that All• DWI/MVA Hearings because of the permits we had to get,” Parent said. state’s practice of exclusion of the Power of Attorney Scan this “Times Code” “The overall reaction of the town council and the counties was discriminatory. with your smart phone • Name Change • Adoption people was it was a good thing.

The majority opinion of the • Wills • Guardianship Accepting: “It’s not been a secret,” he said.

Court of Appeals affirmed an earlier decision by the Maryland 99 Smallwood Dr. Waldorf, MD • 206 Washignton Ave. LaPlata, MD guyleonard@countytimes.net Insurance Commissioner that All(301) 932-7700 (301) 870-7111 SERVING CHARLES • ST. MARY’S • PG • CALVERT state was reasonable in its decision to deny new insurance policies, because it produced probability Do You Feel Crabby When You Get Your models to show it could not economically sustain the risk of the new policies.

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Allstate argued that it used probability models, instead of actual evidence, when deciding to reject new policies because hurricanes in Maryland are a rare event and actual statistics are not in abundance, according to the latest court reports.

Judge Glenn T. Harrell, in his dissenting opinion, likened Allstate’s worries about devastating hurricanes in the Chesapeake Bay area, and the lack of evidence thereof, to fearing the damage Godzilla would wreck upon Japan.

“Although my opening analogy is silly, it is so intentionally to illustrate my view that the [InsurGary Simpson ance] Commissioner’s and this court’s approval of Matt Laidley Allstate’s discriminatory decision is wrongheaded,” Katie Facchina Harrell wrote. “Recorded history on the subject 7480 Crain Highway shows, again and again, that a catastrophic hurricane La Plata, MD 20646 … has not made landfall in Maryland yet.”

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Thursday, February 16, 2012

COUNTY NEWS

6

School Funding Starts With Maintenance of Effort

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer

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Along with the possibility of counties becoming responsible for funding teacher pensions, there is an effort in Annapolis to clarify the state’s Maintenance of Effort requirement on counties.

Maintenance of Effort (MOE) is the bottom-line funding counties are required to supply to local schools. It is a per-pupil funding level, with an adjustment made for the number of students.

Unlike other counties, Calvert uses its own funding formula to determine the school’s budget instead of starting with MOE and building from there. Calvert’s local formula has consistently worked out to be greater than the state MOE, though the formula expired this year, according to the county’s Department of Finance and Budget Director Tim Hayden.

The Board of Education is currently working with the county to create a new formula, though there is still work to be done before a new formula can be agreed upon.

“I would always think that would be our starting point,” Hayden said of the state’s MOE formula.

Under MOE, each student accounts for a specific percentage of the money given to

the schools, and when the student leaves the district, that percent is subtracted from the next year’s MOE number.

Counties that fail to fund the school district at MOE once had the threat of losing some state funding, but with state funding dropping with the economy, Hayden said there is less incentive for counties to fund schools at MOE. Last year, he said seven counties did not meet MOE funding.

Hayden said there is a waiver counties can seek if they will not meet MOE although not all counties that failed to meet MOE requested a waiver.

Superintendent Jack Smith said schools are also penalized when not funded at MOE by the counties, and he hopes legislation can provide a fix, so schools will not be penalized when counties fail to meet the formula.

A flyer from Maryland Association of Boards of Education and other organizations details the goals for fixing MOE. They include: helping school districts with finding and applying for new revenue sources; reviewing the waiver process counties can go through if they can not meet MOE; making sure school funding calculations do not include retirement and pension costs; and, reviewing the process counties go through to obtain a waiver. sarahmiller@ountytimes.net

Drug Card Program May Provide County Extra Cash

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer Customers won’t be losing any benefits, but changes and even additional savings could be on the horizon for Calvert’s Prescription Drug Discount Program.

Calvert County has been offered two options moving forward with the program offered by the National Association of Counties (NACo) – either keep the program as it is, or sign on with a change that would give the county money every time a prescription is filled through the program.

NACo Director of Membership Marketing Andrew Goldschmidt said customers using the cards will see no change if the county chooses to go with the revenue sharing program, giving the county money each time a prescription is filled. The savings they get will not decrease. For customers in counties choosing to stay with their current plan, customers may see a slight increase in the savings they get.

Calvert County Department of Community Resources Director Maureen Hoffman said the county has not decided what option they will take; they are still weighing the costs and the benefits. Ultimately, they will take the decision to the Board of County Commissioners.

“We’ve been very happy with it,” she said.

Calvert County has been involved in the program since July 2009. Goldschmidt said between 300 and 400 prescriptions are filled per month through the program for the county.

According to the county’s website, savings average 22 percent per prescription and more than 59,000 pharmacies nationwide accept the card, including Wal-Mart and other chain and independent pharmacies. The cards are available to all county residents and there is no enrollment form, membership fee, age requirement and or limit of the card’s use.

If the county chooses the revenue sharing option, officials can use the money however they see fit.

Hoffman said she hopes the money would go toward benefiting Calvert County residents and health initiatives.

She said she believes NACo is offering the new option as a way to remain competitive in the face of the “uptick” in companies and entrepreneurs offering similar programs.

Goldschmidt confirmed her theory, saying there are other companies offering similar programs, and NACo waited until they had an option that would not negatively impact the customers using the program before they rolled it out.

For more information, visit www.co.cal. md.us/prescriptiondrugcard.asp. sarahmiller@counttimes.net

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Thursday, February 16, 2012

The Calvert Gazette

Electronics Recycling Day Set The Calvert County Department of Public Works, Division of Solid Waste, is hosting an electronics recycling collection day on Saturday, Feb. 18, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at two county locations – the Appeal Landfill at 401 Sweetwater Road in Lusby and Huntingtown High School at 4125 Solomons Island Road in Huntingtown.

The event will give Calvert County residents and businesses the opportunity to safely dispose of consumer electronics items free of charge, a county press release states.

Common electronics items accepted include computers and printers, cable and satellite receivers, stereos, televisions and monitors, battery backups, fax machines, DVD players, cash registers and point-of-sale systems, scanners, game systems, cell phones, printer cartridges and rechargeable batteries. Collection is limited to Calvert County residents and businesses only.

For more information, call the Calvert County Department of Public Works, Division of Solid Waste, at 410-326-0210 or visit the Calvert County website at www.co.cal.md.us.

Protect Personal Info Before Recycling Electronics

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer Electronic Recycling Days can sound like a mixed blessing to Calvert County Residents concerned with protecting personal information stored on devices; however, there is a way residents can take advantage of these days without giving up peace of mind, according to Jim Frost, from R-Tech Consulting, LLC. “The safest thing to do is to take out the hard drive,” said Frost. “Hard drives don’t take up a lot of space. Drill a hole through the hard drive. That’s the standard for destroying.”

Some companies have programs which can wipe off a hard drive. Frost admits that most people are probably not as careful as they should be to protect themselves before recycling electronics.

R-Tech Consulting is been in the business of helping small businesses of 10 or less employees with their computer needs.

They serve Calvert and Prince George’s counties along with Virginia and Washington,

D.C. by building new networks and maintaining current networks.

“Rich (the owner) says that you have to maintain your networks just like your car,” said Frost. “Similar to changing oil and checking the engine, our service monthly service contracts make sure the computers have their Microsoft and anti-virus updates and can back up and replace all the company’s data.”

Frost said he takes advantage of the county recycling location at Mt. Hope. But he’s sure to remove his clients’ hard drives first.

Community

Buffalo Wild Wings Donates to Habitat Alan Shirley, General Manager for the new Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant in Lexington Park, along with his staff, presented Pamela Shubert, Executive Director of Patuxent Habitat for Humanity, with a check for $1,602.

Buffalo Wild Wings chose Habitat for Humanity as their charity to donate a portion of the proceeds of sales from their opening weekend to assist Habitat in their mission of providing safe, decent, affordable housing in Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties.

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, February 16, 2012

8

STORY

Support Made Local a Winner in ‘Biggest Loser’

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer When Merrill “Monk” Wells, 34, had knee surgery 14 months ago the nurse asked how much he weighed. He thought he was over 400 pounds.

“The nurse said, ‘I have news for you, the bed scale goes up to 550 pounds. You are over that.’ … I knew then I needed to change,” Wells told the Calvert Gazette.

In the past year he’s lost at least 100 pounds, getting down to his current weight of 450. He’s been using Body by Vi and walking at least an hour every day. When the Biggest Loser Resort in Malibu, Calif., announced its “A Year of You” video contest on Facebook, he decided to give it a shot.

The resort accepted150 videos through December 2011. Online voting whittled the videos down to the top 30 and the judges picked the final 10 winners to spend four weeks at the resort.

“Why is The Biggest Loser Resort giving away four weeks free to 10 people?

Well, it's simple, because we CARE! So many people struggle with weight-related issues for the primary reason that they have been unable to put themselves first.

Whether because of financial, physical or emotional challenges, a major stumbling block for overweight individuals tends to be the same - an unbalanced lifestyle,” the announcement on The Biggest Loser Resort blog reads.

Wells said he shot his video 15 times before he had the one he wanted to submit.

Prior to the contest, no one in his family knew how much he weighed. He wouldn’t allow his fiancée, Jessie Jones, or 5-year-old son, Mason, to be in the room while he did his video.

“They would start the camera for me and then run out of the room,” Wells said.

He waited until the final days of the contest to submit his video and he tried to keep it “private” on Facebook because he didn’t want his family and friends to see it.

However, he received a call from the contest saying he’d have to open his video up for everyone to see.

“I got two comments right away,” Wells chuckled.

He was surprised by how the community embraced him. He started receiving positive comments on his Facebook page telling him how he had become a role model to others who were struggling with their weight.

“It’s been great. Finally I can give back. It’s nice to talk to others,” Wells said.

The online voting started Jan. 1, 2012 and ended on Jan. 15. About halfway through the voting period the resort started posting the voting results. The first set of results came back and Wells was in second place.

Then both his local community and digital community began spreading the word about Wells’ participation in the contest.

“They could vote once every 24 hours. I’m overwhelmed by the amount of support from

Nine other people have four or five months to get themselves in better shape before they get their butts kicked. But then that’s the reason why we are all going out there because we aren’t there yet.”

Although he’s looking forward to going to the resort and learning about what he can do better, he’s also dreading leaving his son for a month.

“He’s everything to me. But it is the right thing to do,” he said.

The resort sent him a schedule indicating that he would not be free until 7 p.m. during the weeknights, and with the threehour time difference it will mean he won’t have a chance to talk to his son as often as he would like. Wells said he’s already made some videos and written letters for those nights when he can’t call.

Wells said one of the things he’s most proud of is that he came away from the contest in the number one spot with the help of his local community and on his own. He tried not to be discouraged when the other contestants went on television, gave interviews and received celebrity endorsements.

It was “100 percent community supported. Every time I went on Facebook I have a message from people I don’t know.

The Red Octopus sent me a message asking when I leave,” he said, adding he was surprise by the “amount of people I don’t know who said ‘You’re the one.’”

“Pay It Forward”

Monk Wells with his son, Mason.

the community,” he said.

In his qualifying video, Wells spoke about how he was a firefighter and had always put everyone’s health and safety above his own. He asked those who watched the video to “help a firefighter save himself.”

A similar message spread through digital communities. “Firefighter needs help.”

The results of the voting were posted daily and Wells took over the top spot for the rest of the voting portion of the contest.

“My goal was to be number one. In my mind being number one meant they (judges) had to pick me as one of the 10 winners.”

When the contest posted the top 30 vote recipients, they listed them in alpha-

betical order, so Monk didn’t know where he fell at the end of the voting period. He hoped since he held the top spot for all but one day, that he was still number one at the end.

“January 15 through the 30 was a waiting game,” he said.

The day the winners were announced was difficult. One of the girls had “put herself out there” by being in the media. She was on a morning news show and was told that she was one of the 10 winners. Wells said it was afternoon and he still hadn’t received a call, so he was trying not to lose hope. He was on the way to the county dump at 2 p.m. when he got the call that he was also a winner.

Out of respect for his new friends he met as a result of the contest, he didn’t announce his selection to the public. By 4 p.m. “My phone was blowing up,” Wells said.

The official announcement was made and he was listed as number one.

He will be the first of ten winners who will spend four weeks at The Biggest Loser Resort. He leaves March 4 and returns sometime in April. The return day hasn’t been finalized.

“I feel more pressure.

Wells is a Captain at Fort Detrick Fire Department at Forest Glen Station 54 (formerly known as Walter Reed). He moved to Calvert during high school and graduated from Northern and has served in Calvert’s volunteer fire departments for 14 years. Last year he coached the Huntingtown Hornets flag football team and he’s considering coaching T-ball this year.

“As a captain at work, I try to lead by example. I don’t ask them to do what I’m not willing to do. I’ve played sports all my life. I realized I needed to stop hiding.”

He said that the scale was the enemy for a long time. He didn’t want to know the truth. He’s battled with his weight all his life.

Six years ago he got down to 230 pounds, which is still considered overweight for a male 6’3”. He wants to be a good role model for his son.

Before he even leaves for the resort he’s already trying to “pay it forward.” He started his own support group using Body

by Vi. He has 25 people who have their own Facebook group and they have “challenge parties” once a month. He’s working with the local community center to have a space to meet once a month with others.

He feels that he’s starting a new chapter in his life. He wants the happy ending that includes bringing back to the community that supported him what he learned from the resort “to keep others supported and healthy.”

He said anyone wanting support and encouragement in their weight loss journey can feel free to contact him through his website http://monkwells.bodybyvi.com. corrin@somdpublishing.net

9

Thursday, February 16, 2012

The Calvert Gazette

Newsmakers

Private Treatment Center Survives on ‘Little Miracles’

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer Prince Frederick’s Carol M. Porto Treatment Center is a short and long term residential and outpatient program for adult men and women with alcohol and drug treatment problems. The program’s documented success has drawn the attention of Peter Jennings of ABC News and 10 other states wanting to set up similar centers, according to Porto.

Porto, a nationally recognized expert on substance abuse treatment, said she started off in Prince George’s County.

Judges in Calvert County sent many of their DWI offenders to her for treatment. At one point, the Calvert government studied Porto’s center, planning to open its own facility. Instead, they put the program out for

bid. Porto incorporated herself and bid on the project.

From 1992 to 2006, the program operated out of what is now the Calvert Detention Center which houses the work release inmates.

“It evolved to other drugs besides alcohol and other charges. Basically for those needing minimum security and custodial care,” said Porto.

During this period the jails were overcrowded and those with addictions were serving unproductive time incarcerated and still coming out addicted.

Many studies from graduate students up through the state found that Porto’s programs had an 80 percent success rate. People having gone through her treatment center did not have another arrest or any illegal involvement for five years after leaving.

patients up with NA and AA programs to help them stay with their new habits. The center also offers a bookstore with books for recovery. The probation piece is another form of accountability outside the treatment program. The patients know that they can be tested at the center or through their probation officer.

In 2006, the Calvert County Board of Commissioners decided not to continue paying for the program. At that time Porto had to make the transition to a private treatment facility. It was a challenge, but the center survived, according to Porto who said, “It was a little miracle after miracle.”

In order to stay open, the center expanded its services to include shortterm, long-term residential and outpatient programs.

“We are really blessed to recruit high level staff with Master’s degrees. At this level of care you need a higher level of experience. We have a low turnover and cross trained our staff to work in other areas.”

Porto also credits help from previous board members, community members, Carol Porto is a Master of Addictions Counselor with 24 years experience in implementing short and churches and volunteers.

Porto contributes the success of the treatment to researched based and tested approaches, continuing care and probation. As far as the continuing care, the center hooks

long term residential treatment.

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The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Darlene Bowen, 66,

Billie Cox, 75

Henrietta Ellis, 85

Darlene Mary Bowen, 66, of Huntingtown, MD passed away Feb. 9, 2012 at Calvert Memorial Hospital in Prince Frederick, MD with her family by her side.

She was born July 26, 1945, in Washington, D.C. to James Edward and Mary Frances (Mockabee) Jones, was raised in Calvert County and attended Calvert High School.

She had known Lawrence S. Bowen since 1963 and they had been companions since 1980, and were married January 26, 1991. In her leisure time Darlene enjoyed crafts, and found her greatest pride and joy in her family.

Darlene was preceded in death by her parents and by a son Kevin Bowen, formerly of Pennington Gap, VA. She is survived by her husband Lawrence S. Bowen, sisters Dorothy Ramsey (late husband Milton “Buck” Ramsey, Jr.) and Denise Mardock (Marvin) of Austin, TX; a brother Johnny Buscher (Della) of Berkeley Springs, WV; daughters Tammy Comber and husband Darrold of Glen Burnie, MD and Terry McKeaver and husband Gerald of Huntingtown; son Ronald Bowen and wife Trina of Kingsport, TN; grandchildren Thomas (Boots) Rickett Jr. and wife Lori of St. Leonard, MD, Roy Rickett of Huntingtown, Greg Rickett of Prince Frederick, and Kristina (Nina) McKeaver of Huntingtown; a niece Debbie Sutton and husband Joe of Huntingtown and nephews Jim Ramsey of Prince Frederick and Milton (Bucky) Ramsey, III and wife Nancy of Prince Frederick.

Friends and family were received on Feb. 15 at Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., 8325 Mt. Harmony Lane, Owings, MD, where a memorial service and celebration of Darlene’s life followed. Interment Southern Memorial Gardens in Dunkirk will be private.

Expressions of sympathy in Darlene’s name may be made to Calvert Hospice at www.calverthospice.org.

Billie J. Cox, 75, of Huntingtown, MD passed away Feb. 7, 2012 at Calvert Memorial Hospital.

She was born Jan. 8, 1937 in Radford, VA to James Clinton and Virginia (Radcliff) Myers.

She received her education in Radford and graduated from Radford High School in 1953.

Billie married E. Clinton Cox December 24, 1954 in Indian Valley, VA., and they moved to Calvert County in 1955. Billie was a wedding planner for a while but was primarily a homemaker. In her leisure time she enjoyed gardening, traveling and camping. Her passions were her children, grandchildren and her numerous pets. Billie was a charter member of Huntingtown VFD Ladies Auxiliary and a former member of the Huntingtown Homemakers Club.

Billie was preceded in death by her parents and a brother Jack Myers.

Surviving are her husband Clinton Cox, Sr. of Huntingtown; six children, Clinton Cox, Jr. and his wife Millie of Huntingtown, Patricia White and her husband Steve of Dayton, MD, Sandy Sams and her husband Joey of Prince Frederick, Karen Dickersheid and her husband Bob of Lititz, PA, Terry Cox and his wife Susan of Prince Frederick and Dawn Cox of Dunkirk; 11 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; three sisters, Melba Jenkins of Leonardtown, Margaret Poston and her husband Harry of Richmond, VA and Sue Wood and her husband Billy Joe of Leonardtown; and a brother Wayne Myers and his wife Tammy of Mechanicsville.

Friends were received on Feb. 10, 2012, at Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., 8325 Mt. Harmony Lane, Owings, MD where services and a celebration of Billie’s life was held Saturday February 11, 2012. Interment followed at Southern Memorial Gardens, Dunkirk, MD. Memorial contributions may be made to Lilly Pond Foal Rescue, 3655 Ferry Landing Road, Dunkirk, MD 20754.

Henrietta “Aunt Henri” T. Ellis of Port Republic, Maryland, died on Feb. 10, 2012, at the age of 85.

She was born on Sept. 7, 1926 in Rostraver Township, Penn., to Louis and Wilma (McClintock) Thompson.

Henrietta loved being outdoors and was a big baseball fan of the Baltimore Orioles. She loved to cook and bake for her family.

She is the loving mother of Gary Ellis and his wife, Sally and the late Mark A. Ellis. She is the devoted grandmother of Gary “Clif” Ellis and his wife, Jeannie and sister of Dorothy Moraco and Mary Oblex.

The family received friends at Lee Funeral Home, Calvert in Owings on Feb. 15, where Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 10 am. Interment will follow at Chesapeake Highlands Memorial Gardens, Port Republic, MD. Memorial contributions in Ms. Ellis’ memory may be made to the: Solomons Nursing Center, Attn: Activities Department, P O Box 1509, Solomons, MD 20688.

Salvatore Genovese, 77 Salvatore “Sam” John Genovese, 77, of Lothian passed away on Feb. 11, 2012 at his home.

He was born September 14, 1934 in Baltimore, MD to Joseph and Anna Frances (Bordine) Genovese.

He was raised in Baltimore and attended Baltimore Public Schools. Sam married Faye Marie Kronawetter in Baltimore September 24, 1952 and they resided in Glen Burnie, moving to Huntingtown in the early 1980’s, then Lusby. Fay passed away July 26, 2002.

He has resided in Lothian for the past several years.

Sam married Evelyn Marie Saunders on Dec. 23, 2003 and they separated in 2011. Sam was employed as carpenter with Bay Mills Construction Company. In his leisure Sam enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a member of All Season Rod & Gun Club.

Surviving are his daughters Denise M. Weber, Debra (Debbie) A. Connell both of Lothian and Sandra D. Baunler of Macon, GA; three grandchildren; six great grandchildren and a sister Clara Jones of Rosedale, MD. Friends were received on Feb. 14, at Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., 8325 Mt. harmony Lane, Owings, MD where services followed. Interment will be private.

Cora Nation, 73 Cora Lee Nation, 73, of North Beach, MD passed away on Feb. 9, 2012 at her home. She was born May 8, 1938 in Geary, Oklahoma to Ben and Vida (Roman Nose) RedBuffalo.

10

She received her early education in Geary Schools and attended the University of Maryland at College Park. Cora served in the United States Navy from Sept. 30, 1957 until being discharged in May 5, 1961 and has lived in Maryland since. She was married to James Nation in June of 1979 and they made North Beach their home. She was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Parish in Prince Frederick.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a son Parrish Ricci and brothers Ronnie and Benny RedBuffalo.

Surviving are her husband James Nation; children Donna Nicholson and her husband Jeff of Gambrills. MD, Luke B. Nation of Washington, DC and Jacqueline R. Platt and her husband David of Pittsburg, PA; grandchildren Jennifer and Christine Nicholson of Gambrills, MD and John, Claudia, Theodore and Julia Platt of Pittsburg, PA and sisters Maxine Condulle and her husband Claude of Oklahoma City, OK, Betty White of Arapaho, OK and Mona Montassam of Albuquerque, NM. Friends were received on Feb. 13, at Rausch Funeral Home, Owings, MD. Funeral service and a celebration of Cora’s life was held Feb. 14, 2012 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Parish, 231 Church Street, Prince Frederick, MD. Interment will be in Geary Cemetery, Geary, Oklahoma.

Memorials contributions may be made to St. Labre Indian School, P.O. Box 216, Ashland, Montana 59004.

Barbara Zanelotti, 71 Barbara Ann Zanelotti, 71, of Prince Frederick, MD formerly of District Heights, MD passed away on Feb. 9, 2012 in St. Mary’s Hospital, Leonardtown, MD. She was born on May 26, 1940 in Washington, DC to the late Jerome L. and Margaret Maud Zanelotti.

Barbara attended Suitland High School and moved from Prince George’s Co. in 1977 to Calvert Co. where she was a homemaker. She loved reading, working puzzles, and playing bingo.

Barbara is survived by her children, Cathy Keyes of Florida, David Jimney and wife Lori of Lusby, MD, and Carl Jimney of Upper Marlboro, MD; siblings, Jerry Zanelotti and wife Nancy of White Plains, MD, Dee Hoofnagle and husband Kenny of Lusby, MD, Gerald and Paul Kala of Greenbackville, VA, and Lucy Walsh and husband John of Berlin, MD; seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends on Friday, Feb. 17, 2012 from 10:30 – 11 AM in Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Solomons, MD where a Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 AM. Interment will be private.

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

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11

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Superintendent Says Another Million Needed for Schools

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer Superintendent Jack Smith is calling for Calvert County to increase school funding by at least $1 million next year.

Smith gave a presentation to the board of education last week, explaining the need to hire and retain staff, in addition to the funding needed for a support person for a new system throughout the schools that “talks” to other systems and self-regulates to a degree.

“The fact is, school funding is very perilous right now,” Smith said.

He said he will be officially presenting a proposed school budget within a couple weeks to allow both the Board of Education and the Board of County Commissioners the opportunity to comment on it. He said between the draft budget being presented and the final budget being adopted, it will change “a lot.”

The district also hired a new Registered Nurse last year, and funds are needed to keep her on staff. There is also a need for more special education teachers, Smith said.

State funding is formula-driven by state wealth and student population. With state wealth holding steady, if not rising, and the Calvert student population decreasing “it will fall on county government,” to help the district, Smith said.

Also during the meeting, district spokeswoman Gail Bennett briefed the board on upcoming legislation to keep an eye on.

One proposed bill, House Bill 370, would require a child’s Body Mass Index to be measured, along with currently required immunizations, before entering school. There is also potential legislation that could open high school athletic programs to teens in parochial schools or those that are home schooled. Other legislation proposes to increase school bus length of operation from 12 to 15 years.

The next Board of Education meeting will be Feb. 23. For more information, visit www.calvertnet.k12.md.us. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

The Calvert Gazette

Spotlight On

Baysox Mascot Visits OLSS

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer Bowie Baysox Mascot Louie skipped into the meeting room of Our Lady Star of the Sea and planted a kiss on the top of a teacher’s head before heading up to the stage to re-enact his poem about why he chose baseball.

The event was to kick-off OLSS “Read and Hit A Homerun” reading challenge which nets students a free ticket to a Baysox’s baseball game on county reading night later in the year.

Dressed in an orange baseball uniform shirt, the Community Program Manager Kate Milstead greeted preschool through eighth grade students as they filed into the room.

“He has big shoes!” one preschooler said.

Milstead asked how big he thought the shoes were and received the response, “Size 145.”

The adults in the room laughed as she promised to go back to the office and check. The unsolicited comment from the little one ironically predicted one of the

Photos By Corrin M. Howe Louie greets all the OLSS students after performing his skit on why he chose baseball as his favorite sport.

Teachers With 20-Plus Years Honored

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer The Calvert County Board of Education honored teachers with 20 years of service or more under their belts during the 37th Annual Service Awards on Feb. 9.

The honorees reached 20, 30 and even 40 years of service with Calvert County Public Schools.

The 40-year honorees were Andrea “Chris’ Banks, Larry Barker, Sharon Godfrey and Iris Harris.

Barker spent 19 years in the classroom, and spent the rest of his tenure in administrative positions.

He said his most rewarding years were spent working with students Photo by Sarah Miller in the classroom because as a vice principal or a principal he sees a lot 40-year employees Iris Harris, Sharon Godfrey, Larry Barker and Andrea of discipline cases and “undesir- “Chris” Banks celebrate their time with Calvert County Public Schools. able” types of students. county, hand held calculators became available Maureen Cassidy, a 20-year veteran with the school district, said the best part and “Title Nine” decreed that schools could not about teaching is seeing the kids change and learn, discriminate based on gender. Thirty years ago, and said the evolution during high school, from there were two grocery stores in the county and books with offensive or inappropriate material freshman to senior, is “amazing.”

“I’ve done everything,” she said. “I’ve taught could not be found in the library. Twenty-five years elementary, middle and high school and I love ago, Patuxent High School opened and 20 years ago, there was no e-mail, no No Child Left Behind them all.”

In keeping of this year’s theme of “time”, each and Patuxent Elementary and Plum Point Middle honoree received a clock in thanks for their years School just opened.

Crunkleton and other officials in attendance of service.

Board of Education President Rose Crunkle- congratulated the honorees for integrating a numton detailed the parallel evolution of Calvert Coun- ber of game-changing initiatives from the national and state level while lasting as long as they have. ty and the school district.

Forty years ago, she said, Northern High School opened as the second high school in the sarahmiller@countytimes.net

reasons why Louie didn’t chose soccer as his favorite sport.

Milstead read a poem, whose authorship she credited to Louie, about all the different sports Louie tried. “His feet were too big and the ball would roll past,” she said about soccer as Louie demonstrated.

After the skit, Milstead told the students that if they read four books, they would receive a free ticket to the game. She informed them Louie started this program over 16 years ago because he loves reading and thinks it is very important.

Then she asked the students how many books they thought were read in the first 15 years.

She received guess from three to 300 million. In the end the cor-

rect answer was 4 million books.

This year 10 counties throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia have 225 schools participating in the reading incentive program.

Louie tells all the schools he is willing to come kick-off their reading program, but Maryland state assessments prevents many of the schools from accepting his offer.

The OLSS students were also treated to seeing their new mascot, Solomon, a seahawk. He came out to greet Louie and have a few hip checks before the larger than life critters spent time shaking hands and giving hugs. corrin@somdpublishing.net

The Calvert Gazette

n er

KiddKioer

CLUES ACROSS

1. Undergarments for women 5. Periods of time 9. Dramatist Henrik 14. Any thick messy substance 15. Examination 16. Japanese city 17. Daze with a blow 18. With fireplace residue 19. Synthetic acrylic fabric fiber 20. Pittsburgh University 23. Scorched 24. Potato state (abbr.)

25. Anger 26. Suitable for use as food 31. To wipe out, obliterate 35. Used of unskilled work, esp. domestic 36. Loose earth, soil 37. Petrol container 38. Great (60’s slang) 41. Conditions of balance 43. Foes 45. Sec. of Energy Steven 46. 6th day (abbr.)

47. Without qualification or exception 51. Sarah’s title

Thursday, February 16, 2012

56. Leisurely stroll 57. Austr. Army History Unit 58. Bowfin genus 59. S.A. mountain chain 60. ____ Scott Case 1857 61. Mound 62. Springfield, IL candy founder Martin 63. Frambesia 64. Reduced price event

CLUES DOWN

1. Pear variety 2. The Sator-_____ Square 3. Light purplish-blue 4. Plants of the genus Cassia 5. Shelf unit for ornaments 6. Live in 7. Arthur ___, Wimbledon champion 8. A thwarting and distressing obstruction 9. Cut off from others 10. Tree trunk outgrowth 11. Tower used for storing silage 12. Br. public boys school

12

13. ___ Ling mountain range 21. __ Clapton, musician 22. Mild yellow Dutch cheese 27. Peruvian province 28. Diagonal cut of cloth 29. A narrow path or road 30. Fraternal Order of ____ 31. The boundary of a surface 32. Granular old snow 33. Rt. angle cleaving tool 34. Irreducible material 39. Oldest man-made rayon fiber 40. Affirmative! (slang) 41. Burial cloths 42. Surface layer of grass & roots 44. Not shaky 45. Kidney-shaped nut 48. Nursemaids in India 49. Alkali bee genus 50. Warble 51. A citizen of Denmark 52. Approves food 53. Golf ball supports 54. Pearl Harbor actress Rue 55. Coarse curly-leafed greens 56. Cancer detecting smear

Last Week’s Puzzle Solutions

13

Thursday, February 16, 2012

The Calvert Gazette

L

No to Gas Tax

By Marta Hummel Mossburg

corner

Avoiding a tax increase this year from Annapolis will be like trying to stay dry while swimming.

Gov. Martin O'Malley has bombarded Marylanders with so many tax and fee hikes at least a few are bound to pass this legislative session. No doubt

the laundry list of proposals that includes imposing a sales tax on gasoline, adding a sales tax for online purchases, at least doubling the "flush tax" and halving the personal exemption for some filers and eliminating it for others, are meant to shock and awe so that when only some proposals pass, it will seem like a victory for taxpayers.

As burden-

commissioners

State Shell Game Created Pension Problem

By Susan Shaw Calvert County Commissioner, 2nd District

Why should you care if the State of Maryland pushes the Teachers’ Pensions down to the Counties? What difference does it make? It’s all tax money, right?

Here’s why you should care.

County budgets are a zero sum game. In other words, there is a finite amount of revenue. If we take that tax revenue and give more to one area, we have to give less to another area. So, if we have to spend millions of dollars on Teachers’ Pensions that have always been a state responsibility, accounted for in the state’s budget, we will have less money to spend on all other funding priorities like public safety, educational operating expenses, parks and recreation, road paving, museums, and EVERYTHING else.

Since many of these budgetary areas are comprised mostly of personnel, jobs will have to be eliminated. Public safety is comprised of deputies, 911 operators, animal control officers, and others. Most of the Board of Education operating budget goes toward personnel costs, especially teachers.

Tax revenue is comprised mostly of property tax revenue and income tax revenue. Property tax assessments have decreased 16% in the first election district. Income taxes are rising slightly as more residents find jobs.

The only way to pay for Teachers’ Pensions on a County level without cutting personnel and services drastically is to raise taxes significantly. Can you afford that?

Many of our residents cannot.

Additionally, this whole concept of passing responsibilities to a lower level of government is WRONG. It is a huge unfunded mandate.

The state’s reason for proposing this abdication of responsibility is that the Teachers’ Pensions are unsustainable. Guess who promulgated the rules that made them unsustainable? Yes, the state legislature—in 2006.

Last year, the Governor claimed he was fixing the unsustainability, but raised the teachers’ contributions by 2%, lowered the level of benefits to 45% of pay (plus social security) and then directed the 2% increased teacher contribution to the state General Fund to help balance last year’s structural deficit. However, rising at 7.5% per year compounded, the costs will double in a few years.

Please let all your state legislators know that you want to keep the quality of life in Calvert County that we have so carefully attained without raising the property tax rate since 1987. Tell them to stop balancing the state budget on the backs of County budgets. Tell them that you can not afford higher local taxes. The bills are HB 087 and SB 152 called the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2012. Hearings will be scheduled soon. You can go to www.mlis.state.md.us/2012rs/billfile to look up the bills and see when the hearings will be. Your help is needed NOW!

some as these new taxes will be, they are just a taste of what is to come. They will not fix the structural deficit and will hinder the state's recovery at a critical time, ensuring that more taxes will be needed to cover the state's evergrowing budget.

And contrary to O'Malley's claim in his State of the State address, they do not offer a "balanced approach" to fixing the budget. Take the proposed hike in the gas tax, for example, the worst of the bunch. O'Malley's proposal would phase in a 6 percent sales tax on gasoline over three years on top of a combined federal and state tax of 41.9 cents per gallon that already exists.

It will hurt the state's poorest residents much harder than wealthier Marylanders.

As Wendell Cox and Ronald Utt write in a new report ( h t t p: // w w w. m d p ol i c y.o r g / docLib/20120201_RethinkingMDProposedGasTax.pdf) for the Maryland Public Policy Institute, (where I am a senior fellow) "Specifically, this report estimates that after the proposed tax increase,

the lowest-income brackets would pay a share of their incomes more than seven times greater than the share paid by the wealthier households. As a result, the lower-income households likely will choose to decrease their driving to a much greater extent than would higher-income households, an outcome that has important implications for job access at a time when gas prices are also very high."

The gas tax also promises to grow government without mitigating the state's transportation funding problems, because the new money could be transferred to the general fund just as it has been historically to cover the expenses of any number of unrelated programs. Neither will raising the gas tax ease road congestion in one of the worst states for clogged highways, because more than half of the state's transportation dollars go to transit. This makes no sense.

--"Such 'even'

Editor

S

Guest Editorial

TER T E to the

funding when highways facilitate 96 percent of the passenger movement and all of the freight movement represents a misallocation of public funding," as Cox and Utt write.

Higher prices will also push the tens of thousands of commuters who travel to D.C. and Virginia each day from Maryland to buy gas out of state, hurting state gas stations, particularly those near the border, and reducing the estimated amount that can be collected by the treasury.

For all these reasons, the gas tax should be tabled. I'll tackle the other taxes in another column.

M a r t a Hummel Mossburg is a senior fellow at the Maryland Public Policy Institute.

Movie With a Message Bring the family and invite your friends to Trinity’s free movie night on Saturday, Feb. 25. This month’s Movie with a Message features the latest film from the creators of Fireproof - Courageous.

Four men, one calling: To serve and protect. As law enforcement officers, they are confident and focused, standing up to the worst the streets can offer. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge they’re ill prepared to tackle: fatherhood. When tragedy strikes home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, their faith, and their fathering. Protecting the streets is second nature to these law enforcement officers. Raising their children in a God-honoring way? That takes courage.

Come see this free screening of this powerful film at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 25 on the big screens in the sanctuary. Discussion and refreshments to follow. Free childcare is also available. Rated PG. Trinity is located at 90 Church Street in Prince Frederick. For more information, call 410-535-1782 or visit www. trinityumchurch.org.

You can also join Trinity United Methodist Church for fellowship and pancakes at the annual Pancake Supper this Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 5-7 pm in the fellowship hall.

The menu features blueberry and regular pancakes, sausage, bacon, cheesy-egg casserole, coffee, tea, juice & water. Hosted by Trinity's youth, all proceeds benefit their summer mission trips.

Publisher Associate Publisher Editor Graphic Artist Office Manager Advertising Email Phone

Thomas McKay Eric McKay Sean Rice Angie Stalcup Tobie Pulliam sales@somdpublishing.net info@somdpublishing.net 301-373-4125

Staff Writers Guy Leonard Sarah Miller Corrin Howe

Law Enforcement Government, Education Community, Business

Contributing Writers Joyce Baki Keith McGuire Susan Shaw Sherrod Sturrock

Calvert Gazette

P. O. Box 250 . Hollywood, MD 20636

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

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, February 16, 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.

Top Line Comedians Coming to Calvert

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer Last comic standing veterans Tammy Pescatelli and Jeff Maurer will be coming to Calvert County for a onenight stand during the fourth annual Comedy Invasion for Project Gradation this Saturday.

The Calvert Alliance Against Substance Abuse (CAASA) works with D.C. Improv Talent Management Agency to book the comedians for the evening. CAASA Coordinator Candice D’Agostino said the agency sends them approximately 10 videos of various comedians, and CAASA ranks the performers by preference. D’Agostino said some of the comedians are based on the west coast, which makes it logistically difficult to go see the acts in person.

D’Agostino said they look for acts that are clean and family friendly, in keeping the tradition of the Comedy Invasion.

Pescatelli will be headlining the evening, with Maurer as the opening act.

According to her website, Pescatelli “is the kind of woman you wish was your sister or your best friend.”

She grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and was one of the final five on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing 2.” She also stars in “A Stand Up Mother” since Jan. 2011 on WEtv, which “documented her life as she balanced her family and her growing career with a lot of laughs.”

She was also the winner of Comedy Centrals “2010 Jeff Maurer

Stand-Up Showdown” and has appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”

Maurer currently lives in Washington, D.C., according to the biography on his website. His “sharp wit and affable demeanor, as well as his quick insights and friendly personality, plus his affable insights, quick personality, sharp friendly, and other variations thereof, are sure to be a hit.”

The Comedy Invasion is one of the two yearly fundraisers for Project Graduation, the first being a Night Golf Tournament at Chesapeake Hills Golf Course. The next tournament, benefiting Project Graduation 2013, will be held May 18.

Project Graduation is a drug and alcohol free nightlong party for seniors on graduation night. Each high school has a Project Graduation coordinator to work with the venues and get everything set for the students to have a place to be bussed to after their graduation ceremony.

Locations for Project Graduation have included Dave & Busters at Arundel Mills Mall, the Navy Drill Hall at NAS Patuxent River and the recreation center at St. Mary’s College. Local law enforcement officers volunteer their time to chaperone Project Graduation nights.

Tickets for Comedy Invasion are $15

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for students between the ages of 13 and 18 and $25 for all others. D’Agostino said seating is limited to 850 seats, and the program has sold out for the last couple years, and she anticipates doing the same again this year. Tickets not sold before the show will be sold at the door, D’Agostino said.

Comedy Invasion is held in the Huntingtown High School Auditorium at 4125 North Solomons Island Road in Huntingtown.

For more information about the performers, visit www.pescatelli.com or www.jeffcomedy.com. For more information on ticket sales call 410-535-3733. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

n o i s a v n I y Comed roject Graduation

Show Rating: PG13

for P

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Huntingtown High School Auditorium 4125 North Solomons Island Rd., Huntingtown, MD

This Thursday, 2/16: Put on your cowboy hat and line dance your way to the Duck for upbeat country music with RENEGADE COUNTRY!!

Show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Next Thursday, 2/23: JukeBox Theives LIVE at the Duck! No Cover Charge! Show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Tammy Pescatelli

Jeff Maurer

Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Show begins at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets are $25 per person for advance sales only and $30 at the door. $15 in advance for students ages 13-18.

Seating is limited.

For more Info, Call 410-535-3733

Tammy Pescatelli

Tickets can be purchased at Educate and Celebrate (Prince Frederick), Floral Expressions (Owings), CAASA Office in Prince Frederick, and Lotus Kitchen in Solomons Island

15

Thursday, February 16, 2012

The Calvert Gazette

dozens of little ones that we released at boatside, we caught our 3-person limit of 30 big fat pre-spawn yellow perch in just under 4 hours. The minimum size allowed by law is 9 inches. We set our own minimum at 10 inches and had some that pushed the tape at 13 ½ inches. What a day!

This type of fishing is not for the meek, indoor types, or the people whose idea of fishing is sitting in the sun on a sandy beach with a surf rod in hand on a hot summer’s day. No. This fishing is done in long johns and foul weather gear, with ear muffs and neoprene gloves. Even so, the tug of a fish on the business end of a rigged fishing line is quite warming; enough to keep at it for a while!

Yellow Perch are active in the cold water. Where conditions are more brutal than they are locally, they can be caught through the ice with considerable regularity. Still,

Big Fat Perch

By Keith McGuire Contributing Writer

The Ordinary

Angler

At this time last year, my small group of three anglers was striking out at every turn. We fished the deep holes for pre-spawn yellow perch and caught one or two little neds, a catfish, and a white perch or two. Other obviously more proficient yellow perchers caught the target fish leaving us with little to do but admire their catch. After a couple of weeks and several more halfhearted local attempts, we headed to North East, Maryland. It was a long ride, but it was purported to be the Mecca for yellow perch.

According to reports, the bite was “On like donkey kong!” We caught 22 yellow perch.

But, while we were fishing in North East on February 27th, the spawning run started in Allen’s Fresh Run and was over before we could back to it.

Our most difficult part of these ventures (apart from timing the bite and the cold weather) is procuring minnows for bait.

Some of the local tackle shops up the road have minnows, but they are all very small

Sp rts their bite is feeble. They won’t slam a baited hook and head for the next county. Instead, it is a subtle nibble as they take a minnow and suck on it before moving on. They’re only slightly more aggressive for small unbaited jigs and spoons. Once you set the hook they are serious fighters for their size and sometimes manage to throw the hook before you can get them into the boat.

Last year was a good fishing year for me, despite the disappointing start. By all measures [so far], this year should be awesome! riverdancekeith@hotmail.com.

Keith has been a recreational angler on the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries for over 50 years; he fishes weekly from his small boat during the season, and spends his free time supporting local conservation organizations.

and expensive when you consider that we can catch our own at most times of the year.

Our first yellow perch excursion this year was last Friday, just two days earlier than our first venture last year. The result was considerably different.

We managed to obtain about 3 dozen minnows, which was not enough for the bite that we encountered. Fortunately, the yellow perch will also hit small jig heads with twister tails, shad darts, and other small jigs and spoons. (When the bite is on, they’re easy to catch and they’ll bite a variety of offerings!)

We fished the northern (Prince George’s County) area of the Patuxent River, targeting depths of 30 feet or more. Not counting the

30 pre-spawn yellow perch caught by Richard Everson, left, Keith McGuire and Scott McGuire.

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Thursday, February 16, 2012

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