2012-05-17 Calvert Gazette

Gazette Calvert

May 17, 2012

Priceless

Everything Calvert County

Maertens Marks 10 Years

Community Service a Hallmark for Jeweler Page 13

Photo By Frank Marquart

The Calvert Gazette

Also Inside 3 County News

Thursday, May 17, 2012

2

On T he Cover

10 Newsmaker 11 Community 13

Feature Story

14 Obituaries 16 Letters

county news

After an unattended briefcase was discovered in a womens’ restroom at the Louis L. Goldstein District Court Multi-Service Building, all workers and persons in the building were evacuated while the Special Operations Team and the Fire Marshall went in to investigate. The briefcase turned out to be an item that somebody just left behind.

17 Business 18 Education 20 Entertainment 21

Out & About

22 Games 23 Sports

community

Group 3:28 of the Year awarded to the newest Calvert Marine Museum club, the Yard QBH St M County TImes Half Ad:LayoutVolunteer 1 3/1/11 PM was Page 1 Arms, who have not only designed, built and planted flower beds, but have kept them beautiful.

Pictured are Eileen LeForge, Judy Larsen, Nan Suydam, Kathy Ellwood, Jon Dann, and Peg Dann.

Heather Maertens, owner of Maertens Jewelry, is glad to live and work in a place where “everybody knows everybody. When you know the UPS man by name and you walk down the grocery aisles and see someone you know.”

MHBR No. 103

3

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, May 17, 2012

COUNTY NEWS

Food Pantry Welcomes Comptroller

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer

Photo by Sarah Miller Commissioner Pat Nutter, left, Comptroller Peter Franchot and Rev. Robert Hahn celebrate the first William Donald Schaefer Helping People Awards.

Comptroller Peter Franchot presented three of the very first William Donald Schaefer Helping People Awards throughout Southern Maryland on Monday.

“Hunger is the scandal of our day,” said Rev. Robert Hahn, Calvert’s award recipient. He was nominated for his work with End Hunger, and during his acceptance, he said the award belongs to the volunteers working countywide.

The presentation was held at Chesapeake Cares Food Pantry, one of the several food pantries affiliated with End Hunger.

End Hunger Director of Communications Jacqueline Hahn said Chesapeake Cares is the flagship location for End Hunger, and one of the largest, aside from the warehouse under construction on Route 231.

Food Pantry Manager Debbie Weber said Chesapeake Cares serves between 400 and 500 families per week.

“If they walk through our front door, they will go home with groceries that evening,” she said.

She said they send people home with 12 pounds of food per person in the household. They give away between 2,000 and 3,000 pounds of food during the pantry’s openings on Tuesday evening and Thursday mornings. Weber said they give out approximately 30,000 pounds of food per month.

She said they do no background checks, nor do they ask about income levels.

“We don’t judge, we leave that to God,” she said. “If they feel they have need we will send them home with groceries.”

End Hunger Program Director Robin Brungard said they also work with people to help them become self sufficient, be it by getting them into job training or college classes or in other ways. She said End Hunger may soon be starting class-sized job training sessions aimed at multiple people, but currently they are working on a one-toone basis.

“It’s good to feed people, better to help them feed themselves,” Brungard said.

For more information about End Hunger, visit www.endhungercalvert.org. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

After 30 Years, Donovan Says Goodbye to Cancer Gala

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer After 30 years and $4 million dollars raised, the Donovan family is ending the annual Cancer Gala at Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa. The Gala started in 1982 when brothers Fred and Gerald Donovan wanted to honor their father’s memory. Last year, the gala raised $400,000, with a grand total of more than $4 million donated to the American Cancer Society over the years. In May 2011, the American Cancer Society recognized the Donovans with the Award of Excellence for Income Development for the South Atlantic Division.

“However, despite the accomplishments, we know that everything has its season,” Gerald Donovan said in a press release. “We have semi-retired and are enjoying all of our extra time with our families. The thanks, praise and recognition we have received over the years

has been gratifying, but never necessary. 30 years ago we started the Gala in honor of our father and we feel our small contribution has added to the strides made not only in cancer research and treatment but also prevention and education.”

Wesley Donovan, Gerald Donovan’s son, said last year’s gala attracted more that 1,300 people, and it has become a monstrous event to plan every year, involving numerous people to make it happen.

He said while the economy hurt the gala, there were always people who donated and got involved no matter what. He said his family wrestled with the choice to end the gala for a few months, and ultimately decided that after 30 years, it was a good time to say good-bye.

“It was a tough decision, but one everyone can live with it because of the success,” Wesley Donovan said. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

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COUNTY NEWS

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, May 17, 2012

4

District Court Evacuated After an unattended briefcase was discovered in a womens’ restroom at the Louis L. Goldstein District Court MultiService Building, all workers and persons in the building were evacuated while the Special Operations Team and the Fire Marshall went in to investigate. Lt. Steve Jones, commander of the Calvert Investigative team, said they have x-ray machines and fiberoptic cameras to check out packages.

The briefcase turned out to be an item that somebody just left behind, though Jones said in cases like this “we would rather be safe than sorry.” People were evacuated at approximately 1:30 p.m. and allowed back in approximately 2:30 p.m.

Judge Robert Riddle said in these instances, people have designated evacuation points to meet at.

“It doesn’t happen very often,” he said.

Photo by Sarah Miller

Town Council Debates Recycling Bins

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer A survey of North Beach residents conducted by town government shows

most want bigger bins for recycling certain types of trash, but are wary of the costs of those bins – so are certain members of the town council who have balked at the proposal of buying these bins with

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Council members Mike Benton and Greg McNeill said they have concerns about using taxpayer money to push recycling.

“The more I hear the more I become opposed to it,” McNeil said of the idea at the May 10 town council meeting. McNeil was commenting on a report from Council member Gwen Schiada, a strong proponent of the town subsidizing recycling, stating the neighboring town of Chesapeake Beach saved $10,000 by going to the larger bins, which would increase the amount of trash recycled and reduce the amount sent to a landfill.

McNeil didn’t doubt the number so much as questioned the time it took to get those savings.

“It’ll be at least six years to pay for the containers,” McNeil said, adding that North Beach’s population is only about one-third of its neighbor’s.

Council members decided to put out bids for the larger bins, which resemble large green trashcans with wheels, to get

the best price they could.

The proposal would cost about $80 per recycling bin, which translated into about $65,000 for the entire town. “$65,000 is awfully high,” Councilmember Randy Hummel said.

Still others supported the idea; Councilmember Ken Wilcox said spending taxpayer money on recycling bins was justified since it was a kind of “infrastructure improvement.”

That improvement would come from the savings in trash pickup to the town that recycling would provide, he said.

But the council, in seeking bids on the bins and only incremental numbers, was seeking a middle way between getting more recycling and the large initial bill.

“The $65,000 is not on anybody’s radar screen right now,” Wilcox said. “It’s too see if there’s an increase in [actual] recycling.

“We need the data behind that; we’re all in the dark about how much this is going to cost.”

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COUNTY NEWS

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, May 17, 2012

County Makes Rounds for Business Appreciation

Mark Davis, of Davis, Upton, Palumbo & Dougherty, LLC, introduces new Calvert County Chamber of Commerce member Rick Akers of Bright Exteriors during last week’s Business After Hours sponsored by Davis’ firm.

Photos by Corrin M. Howe Lotus Kitchen, LLC owners Amanda Comer and Kelly Guilfoyle receive recognition from Calvert County Board of Commissioner Steve Weems during last week’s Business Appreciation Week sponsored by the Department of Economic Development.

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COUNTY NEWS

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As the General Assembly met this week to raise taxes on about 10 percent of its residents — those who make $100,000 or more — an internal report from the Department of Legislative services shows that Maryland is second in the nation when it comes to its dependence on income tax revenues from its residents.

“Maryland’s reliance on the income tax is high, second on a percentage of income basis and third on a per-capita basis, compared to other states, primarily reflecting the statewide local income tax,” the report reads.

The report shows that income tax in Maryland comes in at 3.9 percent of personal income, while property tax comes in at 2.5 percent.

This puts Maryland near the bottom among all 50 states for property tax revenues compared to personal income, the report states, with an overall 9.9 percent of all taxes coming out of personal income.

The figures on the income tax have drawn the ire of grassroots groups that have opposed the special session and its direct mission to raise income taxes.

“One has to wonder if the Governor, the Senate President and House Speaker are reading the reports provided for them,”

said Change Maryland Chairman Larry Hogan. “This report raises red flags about Maryland’s over-reliance on the income tax to support state spending, and our top elected officials are on the verge of making the problem even worse.”

Hogan, a developer and former state cabinet secretary in the Ehrlich administration, is considered amongst Republicans as a likely candidate for governor in 2014, though he has not committed to a run.

Supporters of Gov. Martin O’Malley’s tax increases say they are critical to forestall cuts to education; when legislators left Annapolis in April they did so without passing the governor’s tax package setting in motion an estimated $500 million in cuts.

Republicans said that despite the automatic cuts, the budget was still $700 million, or about 2 percent, higher than last year’s budget.

Even the state’s Comptroller Peter Franchot, a Democrat, posted a letter to the legislature Monday that slammed the special sessions aims.

In this letter Franchot said that the income tax increase would be a short-term budget solution and put the state’s fragile economy at risk. guyleonard@countytimes.net

Lusby Man Charged in Knife Attack

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

their argument, Mackall placed the knife in his back pocket and confronted MilSt. Mary’s County poburn, charging documents lice have arrested a local man stated. for allegedly stabbing a vicMilburn then punched tim multiple times in a LexMackall in the nose and left ington Park neighborhood side of his head; Mackall then last Friday. pulled the knife and started Police have charged stabbing Milburn, inflicting McKinley Nathanial Mack- McKinley Nathanial Mackall cuts on the left side of his all, 32, of Lusby with first- and second-de- neck and shoulder, charging papers stated. gree assault and trespassing in the alleged Mackall told police that he dropped attack on Samuel Milburn, Jr. the knife during the fray, which continued According to charging documents, for several minutes.

Milburn came to the Valley Estates Drive Thomas tried to break the two comresidence at about 8:15 a.m. and began batants up but suffered a small cut on her arguing with Mackall’s girlfriend Ken- arm from the knife. dra Ann Thomas about visitation with two The fight eventually ended with both children Milburn and Thomas share. men fleeing the home, police said, with poThomas also had two children by lice finding Mackall across the street and Mackall police said, and Mackall had been arresting him. at the Lexington Park residence since 1 Police found that the property managep.m. ment company of the apartment complex When Mackall heard Milburn and where Mackall was found had mailed out Thomas arguing, court papers stated, he a no-trespass order against him in January. came down stairs and went into the kitchMilburn was treated at St. Mary’s en; the defendant told police he picked up a Hospital for non-life threatening injuries, knife and began to make a sandwich. police reported.

When he could hear that neither Milburn nor Thomas were backing down in guyleonard@countytimes.net

7

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, May 17, 2012

COUNTY NEWS iPads for Sheriff’s Office Cause Contention

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer Concerns from the county’s Technology Services prompted Calvert officials to redirect the Sheriff office’s request for iPads.

Lt. Col. Tom Hejl spoke out at the May 8 Board of County Commissioners meeting, saying they had no right to take out the request for the iPads and replace it with a paper shredder.

A memo from Office of Technology Services Director Joseph Klausner, states the department “currently does not have the capability to manage a fleet of iPads other than the test devices already in place.”

The Justice Assistance Grant funding the purchase of the iPads is a recurring grant, said Director of Budget and Finance Tim Hayden. This year, the grant was awarded for $18,772.

Hayden said currently each commissioner has an iPad, which technology services is using as a test run. He said they have the infrastructure in the network for Blackberrys, but not iPads.

“There is also no policy at this time regarding assignment of this technology,” Klausner states in the memo, adding, “What solution are they seeking from an iPad device that an MDT or smartphone could not give them today? Does a deputy need to have an iPad, MDT and smartphone at the same time?”

Hejl said during his address to the commissioners that the sheriff’s office is not seeking to connect the iPads to the network, and there was no need for technology services to get involved.

Commissioner Susan Shaw would not back the iPad pur-

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chase, suggesting first they defer action then stating she would not vote for iPads for any county office.

“I would think there’s a less expensive, easier way to accomplish the same goal,” she said.

Sheriff Mike Evans said there are applications specific to for investigators to use in the field, and they would have the ability to draw up warrants, send them for approval and get them back all while en route rather than waiting for a fax at the office before heading out.

He said the disagreement during the commissioners meeting was the result of a miscommunication, and the matter should have been cleared up and everyone in agreement before the request went to the county commissioners.

He said the office wants to purchase two or three iPads to begin with, and add more if the initial test is successful. He said he has heard from people in his office how useful they could be, and has no reason to doubt them.

“I trust their judgment,” Evans said.

Lt. Steve Jones, Commander of the Calvert Investigative Team, said he put the initial recommendation in for iPads. He said they were actually the cheaper option compared to the laptops officers on patrol have, and the men and women in his department need the upgraded technology. He said the iPads have applications specifically for law enforcement that will allow people in the field to write reports, identify pieces of clothing and other items, record video and audio and even conduct interviews, all on the go.

“It’s really gonna help my guys in the field,” he said. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

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COUNTY NEWS

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, May 17, 2012

8

Business Women’s Round Table Shares Marketing Tips

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer

Lee Ann Stedman from Circle of Care, introduced at the Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours last week, was one of the business women sharing her marketing ideas with other local women business owners.

Teresa Schrodel, part owner of Medart Galleries in Dunkirk, was the speaker at the Business Appreciation Week Woman’s Roundtable held at the College of Southern Maryland in Prince Frederick.

Approximately 50 local women business owners of non-profit organizations, home-based businesses and storefronts gathered to learn more about marketing.

Kathy McAdams, from Small Business Development, said she invited Schrodel to share because of all the avenues Medart Galleries uses stay connected to its current clients and draw in new customers.

Advertising on Comcast weather stations prior to the hurricane surprised Schrodel as being both less extensive and more effective than she anticipated.

“People were trapped in their homes and glued to the weather station if they had power and cable,” said Schrodel.

Besides cable, Schrodel advertises in newspapers, through her website and Facebook. She credits her father with establishing a routine of gathering customer contact information which eventually she and her brother, Frank, populated into a database.

They send direct mailings to their regular customers. She also gives away a small coffee cup filled with marketing materials. She is surprised at the success of this simple marketing tool.

Danita Boonchaisri from the county’s Depart-

ment of Economic Development shared a list of information about her 27-year-old son who would not be reached by traditional marketing.

“He doesn’t go to the bank or Post Office. He doesn’t wear a watch. He doesn’t watch or hear commercials because he uses DVR and Sirus. He has an automatic schedule of bulk items purchases like toilette paper and paper towels on-line through Amazon.com. He doesn’t have a relationship with his banker or insurance agent, but demands great service,” said Boonchaisri.

However, Maria Dorsett, Business Retention Specialist, shared that she had found there is a growing trend back toward traditional marketing techniques. She is finding people want businesses to call them back, to build relationships, and to have personal interaction.

“Women have an advantage. They like to talk, but they can also listen. They are less reluctant to try new things and are willing to band together to market collectively,” said Dorsett.

In the end, the messages shared among the women seemed to reiterate the importance of knowing their market and their product.

Lee Ann Stedman, owner of Circle of Care, is offering information and compiling it in one location for her clients, the growing senior population.

For example, instead of having to search several different local newspapers across the tri-county area, Stedman compiles a newsletter with all the free course offerings through various agencies relevant to seniors.

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The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Where do YOU fit in the Senior Housing Puzzle?

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Newsmakers

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, May 17, 2012

10

Yard Sale Queen Finds Bargains, Quirky Decorations

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer When Christina Heiska moved to Calvert in 1990, there was no mall within an hour of her Lusby home. There were no large outlet stores. To do much beyond grocery shopping, she said she had to go to Prince Frederick, Waldorf and even Baltimore or Annapolis.

The lack of easily accessible shopping was a bit of a culture shock, Heiska said. It was then she noticed the abundance of yard sales in the area and began making rounds to see who had what, putting her on the road to become Calvert’s self-styled Yard Sale Queen.

“Now, I don’t even Chris Heiska and her son Jacob sort through items at the Middleham Chapel’s indoor Photos by Sarah Miller care if I go to the mall,” yard sale.

Heiska shows off some of her newest purchases. ing out in the garage while she finds a way to deHeiska said.

Yard sales often offer good odorize it.

Another foul find was a Dyson vacuum quality or quirky items cheap.

Prince Frederick Ford/Dodge presents Heiska said she found a child cleaner, which the seller swore worked. Because sized roll-top desk for $5 at a yard the price was dirt cheap, Heiska said she bought sale. She said the desk is an “awe- it and brought it home. Sure enough, when it was some piece of furniture” that has plugged in the vacuum worked. It also smelled gotten a lot of use. Another time, like “someone’s stinky, wet dog” and the sucshe found a trunk with travel tion wasn’t wonderful. That was the last time she stickers form Paris to New York, bought a vacuum at a yard sale, Heiska said. She also cautioned buyers to make sure electronics which she couldn’t pass up.

Yard sales are good places to work before buying them.

Heiska said while there are treasures to be find items with “character” or a vintage look without a large price found, successful “yardsailing” takes time and patience. Sometimes there just isn’t anything betag, Heiska said.

One time, her brother asked sides baby clothes, but most yard sales are worth her if she could keep an eye out at least a quick look.

“You’ve got to be open,” she said. “You can’t for a wedding cake topper for his expect to find everything your first time out.” upcoming wedding. She said she Heiska said she sees a lot of familiar faces at found a brand new Mickey and Minnie one, perfect for them be- yard sales. There is an un-official circle of yard cause the newlyweds were honey- sale hunters who will share tips and point each other to good sales, or just take a second to say mooning in Disneyworld.

“They had a 50 cent cake top- hello.

Some items can be bought cheap and resold per on a $500 cake,” she said. for more.

Heiska said Starbucks mugs are often Heiska said she has found col50 cents, but certain ones can be sold on eBay lectors items like WWII memorabilia and vintage Calvert County for $50 or more. Heiska said she has an eBay acobjects, like a baseball cap and a count, but doesn’t normally buy things with the 1928 paperweight from a Prince sole intention of re-selling them. She said when 7:30 p.m.

Frederick bank. She said there are she does sell something on eBay, it is small, easy often boxes of books, movies or to package and ship.

Heiska said her big tip for people holding CDs at yard sales, which are alyard sales is to advertise. There are free places to ways worth a look.

PNC Waterside Pavilion advertise, like the local newspaper, Craig’s List “It’s amazing what you can at the Calvert Marine Museum and SOMD.com, but people rarely take advanfind,” she said.

Tickets: $40 & $50 (additional fees apply) Not everything is a home tage of them. She said the more advertising a yard run, Heiska warned. One of her sale has, the more likely is it to be successful.

For more information, including tips from recent finds was a brand-name the Yard Sale Queen, visit www.yardsalequeen. leather purse in good condition. It wasn’t until she got home that she com.

Buy tickets at: 1-800-787-9454 realized that it reeked of cigarette www.calvertmarinemuseum.com smoke. The purse is currently air- sarahmiller@countytimes.net

Sunday, May 27

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Thursday, May 17, 2012

The Calvert Gazette

Auctioneers Honored Maryland's Republican Woman of the Year

Calvert County Commissioner Steve Weems, right, presents a proclamation recognizing April 15-21 as National Auctioneers Week to Chesapeake MarketPlace and Auction House owners Kay and Larry Forman. The St. Leonard establishment is a unique market with 100 shops and regular auctions, tag sales and special events.

Robertson Hospital Employee of the Year

Registered clinical dietitian Joan Robertson was named by Calvert Memorial Hospital as Employee of the Year for 2011. Robertson, who joined CMH in 1982, is noted for her problem solving skills and dedication to providing excellent service.

“The relationship Joan has with her patients is extraordinary,” Rick Haefner, dietary director at CMH, said in a press release. “For the past 30 years, she has worked 99 percent of weekends and most holidays. On her rare days off, she frequently calls in to check on her patients.”

He went on to add, “Joan represents everything that is great about CMH. She is caring, giving and constantly seeking to do more.”

In addition to Robertson, the other 2011 Service Excellence winners were Tammy Lojacono, lead coordinator in nursing administration; Jean Morsell, correspondence tech with medical records and financial counselor JoAnne Green of the business office.

Mathew Wheaton, director of the transitional care unit, won the hospital’s Beacon Award, presented to the manager who exemplifies outstanding leadership skills. Wheaton, who joined CMH in 2010, was recognized for overseeing two highly successful state surveys of his unit.

“Matt always takes constructive ideas and puts them into action,” said CMH President and CEO Jim Xinis. “He consistently delivers optimum performance and is a brilliant planner.”

Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's Counties Republican Central Committees joined forces April 27 and 28 to host the annual MD GOP State Spring Convention at the Solomons Holiday Inn Convention Center. During the two-day event, Calvert County Republican Central Committee Member Ella Ennis, was named Maryland's Republican Woman of the Year.

Ennis received her award for her work with the local party as well as with the Maryland Federation of Republican Women's Legislative Chair, a member of the By-Laws Committee of the State Party, and a past President of the Republican Women Leaders of Calvert. Ennis is a resident of Port Republic.

Calvert Maritime Museum’s Underwater Acrobats

By Terry Morr Contributing Writer Have you met Bubbles and Squeak? You haven’t? Well, for an otter-ly awesome experience, drop by the Calvert Marine Museum and scope out two of the friskiest, fun-loving critters around. Bubbles and Squeak are the popular male river otters that make their home in the museum’s otter exhibit. These exuberant little guys will delight you with a cascade of slides and dives, somersaults, and belly flops, guaranteed to please the most discriminating otter aficionado.

Bubbles and Squeak are so darn cute with small eyes and ears, reddish chins and stomachs, and flat looking heads accented by a pair of wacky whiskers.

In a nutshell, Mother Nature’s underwater acrobats are totally irresistible and the real deal when it comes to having fun.

Lori Mason, Linda Hanna, and Laura Magdeburger are the museum’s three aquarists who take turns caring for their adorable charges. Mason says Bubbles and Squeak are almost 10 years old and came to the museum from Florida as six-month old orphan pups (they are not brothers). Now they live a charmed life in captivity.

The otters chow down on three meals a day.

Their main meal, about 1 p.m., usually consists of capelin, a large sardine looking fish, along with a big handful of smelt. With bellies full, Bubbles and Squeak are ready for a snooze outside, most often crawling inside a log at the far end of the exhibit.

Other times, they’ll sleep out in the open, provided

their caretakers have supplied a nice soft clean towel to stretch out on. Then, about 4 p.m. the otters are brought inside for the night, but you can still see their endearing antics through the window inside the exhibition building located behind the otter exhibit.

Like most mammals, that’s us, too, Bubbles and Squeak love treats. Every other day, they’ll feast on hard boiled eggs, along with dog biscuits, peanuts, cranberries, and banana chips.

To challenge the pair, the aquarists often hide treats in floating toys.

Do you wonder how Bubbles and Squeak got their names? The aquarists agree that the names probably derive from otter-speak—a unique collection of squeals, squeaks, bubbling, and chirping, among other sounds.

For an otter-ly entertaining time, visit Bubbles and Squeak at the museum. It’s open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. The bargain price for seniors is $6. Your admission entitles you to explore lots more so be sure to pick up a visitor’s guide upon your arrival.

Otter tidbits: Otters live the world over, except in Australia and Antarctica.

Otters are related to weasels, badgers, skunks, and minks.

There are 13 species of otters, including sea otters.

For more cool stuff about otters check out www. otternet.com.

Pet of the Week

Auggie is an exceptionally handsome cat. He is long and lean with beautiful markings and big expressive eyes. He is very friendly and loves to head-butt you for attention. He was adopted from CAWL when he was a kitten. He recently ended up at the Animal Shelter and was identified by his microchip. His adopter could not be located but it was obvious that he has been well cared for. He is 5 years old and would fit in very nicely with a friendly family. He has no bad habits and is waiting to meet his new family. You can see Auggie at Calvert Animal Welfare League Center, Prince Frederick Md. Friday – Sunday 11am to 3pm or call 410 535 9300

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, May 17, 2012

12

Marine Museum Treasures Volunteers Local Sea Scout Appointed Regional Boatswain’s Mate Sea Scout Brenda Renninger, awarded the Outstanding Sea Scout for Ship 548 at the Regional Bridge of Honor, has been appointed Boatswain’s Mate of the Northeast Region, a press release states.

She just completed a year as the Chesa- Brenda Renninger peake Flotilla Boatswain, which made her the top Sea Scout Youth Leader for Northern Virginia, DC, Maryland, Delaware, and the western part of Pennsylvania. Now as the Boatswain’s Mate for the NE Region she is the second highest Youth Leader in 12 states and the District of Columbia.

Renninger will preside over Sea Scout activities such as training week-ends, regattas, Bridge of Honors, and sailing rendezvous in the entire Region. She will also represent the youth and advise the adult leaders on the members needs.

Next year she will automatically become the Regional Boatswain and will then be the Top youth leader in the Northeast for 2013-2014.

Sea Scouting is a co-ed program for young adults age 13 to 21. The scouts learn boating safety and all the skills needed on and in the water. They take part in maritime activities locally, nationally, and all over the world. Local Sea Scouts from Ship 548 went to England for two weeks boating with English Sea Scouts on canal boats. Last year one traveled to the west coast and crewed on the Coast Guard Cutter Eagle.

Renninger is a member of Sea Scout Ship 548 sponsored by Holy Angels Church in Avenue.

For more information on Sea Scouting please go to our website at www.seascoutship548.com.

You may also contact the Skipper at 410-3264291 or email: douglas.yeckley&comcast.net.

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at stim

The Calvert Marine Museum would not who spent 2,150 combined hours last year asbe the place that it is without the time and tal- sisting daily at the museum and have been ents of so many volunteers. These treasured dedicated volunteers for more than 11 years. people assist with daily functions of the muThe Golden Otter for Volunteer of the seum, First Free Fridays, annual events and Year and was awarded to Sylvia Dry who activities, summer camps, along with special works each day in the development office projects, a press release states. Last year, a and is a crucial part of their team. Sylvia record breaking 27,248 hours of volunteer brings her amazing organizational skills to time was logged. If paid as hourly wages, bear in the development office where she this would equate to $610,407. Who could does everything from filing, sorting, planafford to pay that price for so many jobs well ning, selling concert tickets, and keeping the done? staff straight. Sylvia Dry is a wonderful amThe Oscars and Grammy Awards do not bassador for the museum. hold a candle to the “Golden Otter” Award The Volunteer Group of the Year was Recognition Ceremony held at the museum awarded to the newest CMM club, the Yard on Wednesday, April 18 in honor of CMM Arms, the gardening committee that was volunteers, a museum release states. There formed and hit the ground running in Febare more than 276 active volunteers who ruary of 2011. They not only designed, built can be found in all areas of the museum ev- and planted flower beds, but have kept them ery day of the week in the Skates and Rays, beautiful all spring and summer. The muDiscovery Room, Museum Store, Patuxent seum grounds have never looked better and Small Craft Guild Building, outdoors on the visitors are treated to the beauty of hardy grounds, special events, on Concert Day, and native plants. The dedicated Yard Arms volbehind the scenes. unteers help weekly even when the weather Sherry Reid, Volunteer and Event Co- doesn’t cooperate. Their current projects ordinator who has been a museum volunteer include the construction of a demonstration for more than 25 years is the leader of this composting bin next to the rain garden, the group and takes great pride in their many installation of plant labels, and information accomplishments. on the web site about the native plants they “The Calvert Marine Museum is fortu- are using. nate to have so many wonderful volunteers For more information on becoming a with a willingness to share their time, talent, member of the CMM volunteer family, conenergy, dedication and commitment to make tact Sherry Reid at 410-326-2042, ext. 19 or CMM the best it can be,” Reid siad. email reidsd@co.cal.md.us.

Every volunteer is appreciated, and the evening had several special highlights including Paul Berry, Librarian, with almost 30 years of volunteer service with a total of 25,669.5 hours, Bill Lake, Patuxent Small Craft Guild president, with 14,022 Photos by volunteer Robert Hall hours over his 15 year volunteer tenure, and Volunteer Group of the Year was awarded to the newest CMM club, the Yard Arms, who have not only designed, built and planted flower beds, but have Tom and Sandy Younger kept them beautiful! Pictured are Eileen LeForge, Judy Larsen, Nan Suydam,

Bill Lake, Patuxent Small Craft Guild president with a 15 year volunteer tenure earned 14,022 hours of volunteer service.

Paul Berry, Librarian with almost 30 years of volunteer service and a total of 25,669.5 hours.

Kathy Ellwood, Jon Dann, and Peg Dann.

Over 1,000 hours of volunteer service, these men and women have helped to make the Calvert Marine Museum the best!

The Volunteer of the Year Golden Otter Award given to Sylvia Dry, who volunteers daily in the Development Office and a wonderful ambassador for the museum.

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13

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, May 17, 2012

STORY

Local Business Woman Combines Her Love For Jewelry And Sea

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer Calvert County business owner and lifelong resident Heather (Harkins) Maertens couldn’t put her finger on what was missing during her first months at Gem City College in Illinois.

“I took for granted that everywhere is beautiful. It wasn’t until I came back and ate at a restaurant with a water view that I realized that was what was missing. Just being able to see (the sea). I think that is what inspired me to make area pieces,” said Maertens.

Growing up in North Beach, she said some of her best childhood memories are of collecting sharks teeth and

Photos By Frank Marquart

shells. She graduated from Northern High School, attended the College of Southern Maryland for her basic business courses before going to Gem City College to learn about jewelry design. She chose that college because it’s one of the only ones that still teaches the art of hand engraving.

“Most is done by computerized machines. I paint the piece white, pencil by hand and then tool engrave,” she said. “I like the look of antique jewelry. (Hand engraving) doesn’t wear off over time and it’s a nice detail you don’t see a lot anymore.”

After returning from college, Maertens worked for another jeweler before opening her own shop in 2002 in the shopping center with Food Lion in Solomons. Despite living in the north end of the county, when her realtor showed her the space, Maertens said, “It felt right. I could envision it.”

Now she commutes from her home (she purchased her grandmother’s home) in North Beach to her new store location in Lusby, in the same plaza as Giant and Play N Trade.

She is glad to live and work in a place where “everybody knows everybody. When you know the UPS man by name and you walk down the grocery aisles and see someone you know.”

One of the areas she has set herself apart from her competition is her niche in designing sea life and Maryland area pieces. Some of her first pieces came when she created seahorses and herrings for local fundraising programs, giving a percentage of the profits for her sea life pieces back to the organizations.

Over the years, she has designed pieces for local fundraising such as the Sand Dollar collection for Relay for Life, a sailboat piece supporting Arc of Southern Maryland and the Brem Butterfly for the Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer.

Her pieces have provided her with a loyal customer base of people who have since moved out of the state but still call for Christmas and anniversaries. She also has clients drive in from Annapolis and the Eastern Shore looking for her area pieces.

Having her family in the area only strengthens her bonds and desire to give back to the community. Recently she was the Honorary Chair for a benefit dinner for the new Solomons branch of the Calvert Library.

She supports animal shelters through her Breakfast at Sniffany’s; Puppy Love pendant she designed, and dog food drives.

She is the chair of the Calvert County United Way’s Mardi Gras decorating committee, having made and painted some of the decorations and having collected artwork from students throughout the county’s schools.

When she’s not working or volunteering, she loves

spending time with her nieces or her dogs. She has pugs and a rescue Pekinese. Surprisingly she doesn’t bring them into the store too often. She enjoys sketching new ideas for jewelry. She recently traveled to Aruba and hopes to travel more in the future.

With Maertens Jewelry is celebrating its 10th Anniversary, she is having fun developing activities to celebrate.

Right now she is hiding her Maertens’ bag with a piece of jewelry in other area businesses and leaving clues on Facebook for people to find.

For more information about Maertens’ anniversary celebration activities visit www.maertensjewelry.com, call (410) 394-3990 or search for her Facebook page under Maertens Fine Jewelry & Gifts. corrin@somdpublishing.net

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The Calvert Gazette

Capt. Ralph Barnes, 56

Buck Burgess, 85

Captain Ralph E. Barnes of Huntingtown, passed away peacefully with his family around him on May 4, 2012.

Ralph was born on Jan. 12, 1956 in Laurel, Maryland to Paul and the late Clara Barnes.

He was the beloved husband of Valerie (Hoffman) Barnes and the loving father of Ralph Barnes, Audra Keeler, Evelyn Spring and Amber Johns. He was a devoted grandfather of Jackson Barnes, Michaela and Joseph Braun, Madison Keeler, Annabell Spring and Lillian Keeler. He was the brother of Dinah, David, Cindy and Ellen.

For over 30 years, Ralph has been operating heavy equipment. He got his start at his father’s company – Pilot Construction. He then became a foreman at Gudelsky Materials.

His true love was fishing on the Chesapeake Bay. He loved and fulfilled his dream as Captain of the “Valerie Ann”. He was a faithful patron of Happy Harbor and a beloved waterman.

Ralph was a big fan of the Baltimore Ravens and enjoyed watching Nascar. He was a member of the Deale Elks Lodge.

Ralph was known by many names – son, husband, dad, grandfather, captain and friend. His fishing pole is now silent, but his love lives on in all who knew him.

The family received friends to Lee Funeral Home, Owings, on Monday, May 7, 2012. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, May 8 at Jesus the Divine Word Catholic Church, 885 Cox Road, Huntingtown, MD 20639. Interment followed at the Southern Memorial Gardens, Ward Road, Dunkirk, MD 20754.

Brainard “Buck” Recker Burgess, 85, formally of Clinton, MD, passed away on May 9, 2012 at his home in Ocean City.

He was born Oct. 14, 1926 in Washington D.C. to Brainard and Lavinia (Reinburg) Burgess.

He attended Chamberlain Vocational High School in Washington D.C.. He married Laura Pearl Thompson in Washington D.C. on July 15, 1946 and they were married for 65 years. They lived in Congress Heights until 1953 when they moved to Clinton, Maryland. They lived in Clinton for over 50 years until they moved to their current home in Ocean City, Maryland. Buck served in the U.S. Navy as a lithographer during WW II. Buck worked in the printing industry in Washington D.C. for over 50 years and retired from Jarboe Printing. He was a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Clinton, Maryland.

Buck enjoyed his time with family and was known to them as “Pop”. He loved feeding and watching wild birds, sitting on his deck, boating, fishing, eating crabs, and displaying his collection of knick knacks.

He was preceded in death by his brother Bill Burgess and his sister Evelyn “Sister” Williams.

Buck leaves to cherish the memories of his life: his wife, Laura Burgess; three children: Gary Burgess (Dianne), Thomas Burgess, and Linda Seymour (Stephen); two brothers: John “Skip” Burgess and Robert Burgess; one sister: Joanne Shepherd; seven grandchildren: Kimberly Fridman, Christopher Burgess, Jay Seymour, Sarah Trickey, Rebecca Michalski, Randy Burgess, and Adam Burgess; and eight great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at the Lee Funeral Home chapel in Owings, MD on May 12, 2012 with Rev. Bill Ticknor officiating. Interment followed at Resurrec-

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tion Cemetery, Clinton, MD. The pallbearers were Adam Burgess, Christopher Burgess, Randy Burgess, Timothy Fridman, Jeremy Michalski, Cameron Trickey, and Jay Seymour.

Memorial Contributions can be made in Mr. Burgess’ honor to: Believe In Tomorrow Children’s Foundation – House By The Sea. PO Box 3627 Ocean City, MD 21843.

Doug Cooper, 74 Douglas Cecil “Doug” Cooper, 74, of Lusby, MD formerly of Bowie, MD passed away on May 11, 2012 at his residence.

He was born on Aug. 4, 1937 in Hobart, OK to the late Earl and Ruby Knight Cooper. Doug married Patricia Cooper on November 11, 1960 and she preceded him in death in 1981.

Doug entered the Air Force on Jan. 15, 1957 and was honorably discharged on February 20, 1959. He moved to Maryland from Sacramento, Calif.

Doug is survived by his daughter, Lisa Cooper of California, MD; sister, Naomi Pawless of Hobart, OK, and niece, Pamela McCowan of Sacramento, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, children, Nick Cooper, Kirk Cooper, and Patricia Cooper; and siblings, Darlene Cooper, Dorothy Atkins, Charles Cooper, and Heston Cooper.

The family received friends Tuesday, May 15, 2012 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., 20 American Lane, Lusby, MD. Graveside services were held Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at 11 AM in Fort Lincoln Cemetery, 3401 Bladensburg Road, Brentwood, MD with Rev. Bill Ticknor officiating.

Deborah Crossley, 54 Deborah Ann Crossley, 54, of Port Republic, Maryland passed away on May 7, 2012 in Prince Frederick, MD. She was born on May 28, 1957 in Washington DC. Deborah enjoyed working with the handicapped.

She is survived by her parents John K. and Thelma M. Smootz; twin daughters, and her siblings, Sharon Cline and her husband David, Ramona Moore and her husband Russell, Betty Dough, Thomas Crossley and his wife Suzanne and Charles Smootz and his wife Deborah. She is also survived by her companion, Foard Gallagher.

The family received friends at the

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Rausch Funeral Home, 4405 Broomes Island Road, Port Republic, MD on Friday May 11, 2012, where services followed.

Interment is private.

John Green, Jr., 73 John Alfred Green, Jr., 73, of Severn, MD passed away May 3, 2012 at his residence.

John was born Nov. 11, 1938 in Washington, D.C. to John A. and Mary C. (Simpson) Green.

He was raised in Washington, D.C. and attended school there. He later moved to the Beltsville-Laurel area where he owned and operated Beltsville Auto and Towing with his son John III. He also worked at a local tavern, Remington’s of Laurel. In his leisure time John enjoyed country music and cowboy hats. He was also an avid fan of the Washington Redskins.

John was fond of his many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son John A. Green III, and his wife Tracy Miller Green.

He is survived by a daughter Cheryl E. Wild and husband Craig of Burtonsville, MD; his five sisters, Natalie Barry of Metairie, LA, Joan Marshall of Churchton, MD, Jeanne Rodgers of Kingsland, GA, and Joyce White and June Hardesty, both of Deale, MD; and by a brother Joseph Green of Pittsburgh, PA.. He is also survived by four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Friends and family were received Saturday May 12 at Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., 8325 Mt. Harmony Lane, Owings, MD, where funeral services and a celebration of John’s life followed.

For additional information visit www.RauschFuneralHomes.com.

Lester Harris, 78 Lester L. Harris, 78, of Port Republic, MD passed away on May 7, 2012 at Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC. Lester Leroy Harris was born on April 15, 1934 to the late Norval and Evelyn Harris. He was the eldest of seven children.

He attended the public schools of Calvert County, Maryland.

In 1956 Lester was drafted and served in the United States Army.

He worked as a laborer and construction worker in the Maryland, DC and Virginia area and was a longtime member of

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Thursday, May 17, 2012

Local Union No. 657. On November 29, 1958 he was united in holy matrimony to Mae Bourne and from this union three children were born.

Lester cherished time spent with his family. He especially enjoyed being with his grandchildren and was actively involved in their many activities and events. He also loved the precious time spent with his sisters and brothers and sons-in-law. Whatever they were participating in he got involved also by driving them to games, practices, attending sport events, dance recitals and so much more.

He will be long remembered for his willingness to help others by chauffeuring many people up and down the highway to their doctor's appointments, the store or other places. He was a quiet man, but his love for people and wonderful smile spoke for him.

Lester was preceded in death by his son, Michael and brother Noval Jr. He leaves to cherish his devoted wife of 53 years Mae; two daughters, Vera Bourne and Doreen Jones; two sons-inlaw; Rice Bourne, Jr. and Rodney Jones; five grandchildren, Tayvon and Jerrell Jones, Ciara, Candace and Chanell Bourne; two sisters, Josephine Johnson and Maude Bourne(Clinton); three brothers, Ford(Iris), Gordon and Odell (Josephine) Harris; three sisters-in-law, Gertrude, Olive, Marietta; and brother in law, Gary; one uncle, Daniel Brown and a host nieces, nephews, cousins and devoted friends.

Funeral service was held on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 11:00 AM at Mt. Olive UM Church, Prince Frederick, MD with Pastor Patricia M. Berry officiating.

The interment was at Brooks UMC Cemetery, St. Leonard, MD. The pallbearers were Bruce Gray, Rodney Gray, Jeffrey Jones, Maurice Brown, Ryan Gray and Dwan Johnson.

The honorary pallbearers were Spencer Stepney, Roger Brown, James Straiten, John Jackson, Thomas Johnson and Allen Brown.

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

Clyde Sealey, 101 Clyde Anthony Sealey, 101, of Huntingtown, MD passed away May 10, 2012 at Heritage Harbour Health Center, Annapolis, MD. He was born Aug. 8, 1910 in Pedro Miguel, Canal Zone, Republic of Panama to Prince Alfred and Beatrice (Parris) Sealey. Mr. Sealey was employed as a clerk typist for the Panama Canal Company for 49 years, retiring in 1977. He came to the United States in 1980 settling in Hampton, VA and relocating to Huntingtown in 2000. He was a member of Antioch Baptist Church in Upper Marl-

The Calvert Gazette

boro, MD. He frequently attended the senior centers at North Beach and Calvert Pines in Prince Frederick.

Clyde is survived by his wife Olive Moody Sealy, daughters Sonia Hinds of Huntingtown, Nicole Miller and her husband Steve of Anchorage, AK and a son Rogelio Sealey and his wife Jeannette of the Republic of Panama. He was the father of eight children, the grandfather of 30, great-grandfather of 43, and greatgreat-grandfather of 5.

A visitation for family and friends will be held Saturday May 19 from 2-4 PM at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 3800 Old Town Road, Huntingtown, MD where a funeral service and celebration of Clyde’s life will follow at 4:00 PM. Interment will be private.

Mac Thomas Jr., 39 Chief Warrant Officer Four (CW4) McArthur Thomas Jr., 39, passed away on May 3, 2012 while stationed in South Korea. He was born on Sept. 16, 1972 to the late McArthur (Mac) Thomas Sr. and Shirley (Ann) Kyler. McArthur Thomas Jr. was also known as Heavy or Mac to his family and friends.

McArthur (Heavy) attended school in the Calvert County public school system where his love for playing football and basketball started. He graduated from Calvert High School in 1990, and started his lifelong service to defending the country he lived in by joining the United States Army in November of 1990.

McArthur started out his military career as a non-commissioned officer and later in his career advanced his military status to warrant officer where he reached the grade of CW4 after 21 years of service. He served two combat tours where he was awarded and decorated for his service. McArthur graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration (Cum Laude) October 2007 and Master of Business Administration (Human Resource Management) May 2009 from Columbia Southern University in Florida.

He was a person who never left a stone unturned or an opportunity to become a better person. McArthur loved people and people fell in love with him.

His personality and demeanor welcomed in everyone he met and his love kept them coming back for more. He was a father first, son second, brother third, and friend with all. Once McArthur met you, you were "Macatised" and if you ever got the signature statement of "Joker" you knew right then and there you were a friend of McArthur's for life because he never disowned anyone he met. McArthur was a person who was able to travel the world through his military career and left his ambassador mark on everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him.

McArthur leaves to cherish his son Deonte Thomas, mother Shirley (Ann) Kyler, grandmother Queenie (Ya Ya) Kyler, sister Pamela Neal (Derrick), brothers David Thomas (Tashia), Travis Smith, special friend LaKesha Griffith, nieces Tatiana and Breanna Neal, nephews Jamar, Juan, Jayvell, Jervonta, and De'quan, a host of uncles, aunts, and other family and friends. Although we couldn't acknowledge all of his family and friends, McArthur has a place reserved in all of our hearts and his memory will live on forever in each of us.

Funeral service was held on Saturday, May 12, 2012, at Greater Mt. Zion Church, Prince Frederick, MD with Pastor Lowell Thomas officiating.

The interment was at Chesapeake Highlands Memorial Gardens, Port Republic, MD. The pallbearers were Military Honor Guard.

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

Sherrian Warren, 56 Sherrian Rayfalette Warren, 56, of Waldorf, MD passed away on May 2, 2012 at Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC. S h e r rian Rayfalette (Jones) Warren was born on Oct. 18, 1955, at the Calvert County Hospital, Prince Frederick, MD. Her parents were Clarence Rayfield and Adele Catherine (Franklin) Jones, both deceased.

She attended public school in the District of Columbia and graduated from

Spingarn High School. Sherrian was united in marriage to William Warren (divorced) of Washington, DC. Sherrian was employed by the Federal Government for most of her adult life and retired in 2010.

Sherrian was a very private person in life keeping close to her family circle and her devoted long-time friend Tina Settles of Landover, MD. She will be remembered for her warm smile and kindness. Sherrian loved to shop (The QVC QUEEN) and will be remembered for her giving and generous spirit.

Sherrian had one daughter Crystal Warren-White; a granddaughter, Darryl L White; sisters Eartha Renia Jones and Cheryl Lynette Martin (deceased) and a brother Kenneth Whitmore and his daughter Kenika Whitmore, also one nephew, Ronnie Martin, a niece, Loujaun Purnell and a grand nephew, Alexander Purnell.

She leaves to mourn two uncles, Edgar Franklin (Washington, DC) and Donald Franklin (Capitol Heights, MD); aunts Ethel Adams (Owings, MD), Dorothy Jones (Washington, DC), Loretta Richardson and Juanita Jenkins.

A host of cousins 1st to 4th generation, those who were near and dear will miss her so much. The young ones will miss her ongoing advice on life's choices and her gentle scolding. She always was pushing them to strive for nothing less than excellence.

Funeral service was held on Thursday, May 10, 2012, at Cooper's UM Church, Dunkirk, MD with Pastor Sandra E. Smith officiating. The interment was at Cooper's UM Church Cemetery, Dunkirk, MD. The pallbearers were Antonio D. Wallace, Jr., Kevin D. Holmes, Dominique X. Holmes, Antonio D. Wallace, Sr., Michael Claggett and Pierre Franklin.

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

To Place A Memorial, Please Call 301-373-4125 or send an email to info@somdpublishing.net

L

Editor

The Calvert Gazette

S

TER T E to the

Thursday, May 17, 2012

16

Hospice Helps Patients, Families Focus on Living

Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. “Those of us Bureau to community groups and service organizations. who have worked in the field have seen firsthand how hosFor more information about hospice care, and how hospice and palliative care can improve the quality of life. And pice can help your family, contact Calvert Hospice at 410there’s a growing body of research showing that hospice 535-0892 or visit our website at www.calverthospice.org. and palliative care may prolong the lives of some people who receive care.”

Brenda Laughhunn, Executive Director There is evidence that choosing hospice can ease the Calvert Hospice way toward healthier grieving for loved ones.

Although more than 1.45 million patients receive care from the nation’s hospices every year, reports the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.

One of the most frequent comments that hospice continue to receive is, ‘I wish we had known more about hospice sooner.’ Calvert Hospice is dedicated to educating our community so that Calvert County residents will not be left with this feeling.

Calvert Hospice will host free community forums to help people learn more about hospice care. By Susan Shaw We will cover such themes as ‘How to choose, and Calvert County what to expect, from hospice’, ‘Dispelling common misunderstandings about hospice’, and ‘How Commissioner, 2nd District to talk to your doctor (and your family) regarding Last week, I attended the Sheriff’s Office Open House in your wishes and values related to your medical Prince Frederick to help with voter registration and to support the care’. efforts of the Sheriff and Public Safety in Calvert County. It was a Calvert Hospice also offers a free Speaker’s well-attended, community-building family event that was funded through business sponsorships and included a visit from T-Bone and Heather of FM 98.3. I am grateful for those business sponsors who recognize the contributions of our public safety professionals.

However, several deputies questioned me about whether the community as a whole and the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) in particular, recognize their on-going commitment At the May 10, North Beach Town Council meeting, Chesapeake Beach. If we save roughly one-third as much, to their jobs and to the public. The basis for their doubt was the I expressed concerns over a proposal to purchase recycling it would take us almost 20 years to pay for the bins. lack of pay raises, step increases (longevity pay), or Cost-of-Living bins for town residents. I think it is important to explain Twenty years to pay for trash cans. All with no guarAdjustments (COLAs) despite the worthiness of their job performy position. antee that a resident receiving a bin will recycle more or mance and dedication to public safety. I hear similar comments Let me be clear. I support recycling. That is why I’ve even at all. And despite the fact that Calvert County curfrom teachers and Board of Education (BOE) employees who exsupported the idea of increasing the number of recycling rently offers, free (albeit smaller) bins to all residents, inpect the taxpayers of Calvert County to contribute more to the BOE days in North Beach. This will give citizens more oppor- cluding North Beach residents. so that those funds can be devoted to pay increases. Both those tunities to recycle.

Some have questioned why I have supported spendgroups point out that their take-home pay is less due to rising insurAs a steward of taxpayer dollars, I cannot support ing money on other projects like the Christmas lights for ance costs in an environment where the cost of just about everythe proposal to provide recycling bins free-of-charge to the boardwalk. However, these lights were not purchased thing is escalating, with gasoline being a top example. Some BOE residents. The proposed bins are nearly identical to a com- with taxpayer dollars. In fact, unlike the bins, these lights employees have written emotionally compelling letters asking that mon trashcan, at an astounding price tag of almost $80 per were paid for with fees charged to out-of-county residents the Commissioners also have their pay frozen, even though BOE bin. A quick trip to Snead’s Ace Hardware indicates that who use our beach. employees have gotten small increases prior to this year. They do a similar trashcan runs around $20. The total cost of this I care deeply about the town and hope to meet the not appear to be aware that our compensation is frozen during our proposal is an eye-popping $65,750. goal of keeping it a pristine place to live. At the same time, term at the same rate as that of the prior BOCC by state law. But Supporters have claimed that these bins will be paid it is vitally important that we maintain a fiscally healthy really, our pay rate is irrelevant to the debate, except to show that for because more recycling will reduce the amount of trash future. These bins do not meet that criteria. we “get” it. that North Beach sends to the landfill. While it is true that What I find myself saying, over and over, just as I have in this a similar program saved Chesapeake Beach $10,000 per Greg McNeill, Member column, is that there is no additional money. We are in a time year, North Beach has roughly one-third the population of North Beach Town Council of declining property assessments, while property taxes make up 65% of County revenues, which means there is less tax money to spread around. Now we are being told that the Maryland General Publisher Thomas McKay Assembly is being called into a special session in Annapolis on May 14, 2012 to raise taxes and fees at the same time the teacher’s Associate Publisher Eric McKay pensions will be punted to the Counties, so the state can spend $3 Editor Sean Rice Billion more than last year. Meanwhile, the Maryland General AsGraphic Artist Angie Stalcup sembly also raised the amount of base funding (Maintenance of Office Manager Tobie Pulliam Effort or MOE) that the Counties must provide to the school sysAdvertising sales@somdpublishing.net tems with no incentives to the school systems to find cost savings.

Email info@somdpublishing.net Which means there is even less money to go around.

Phone 301-373-4125 Both employee groups confuse capital expenses with salary expenses. Yes, we are replacing Calvert High School. We are beStaff Writers ing asked to replace Northern High School, which is reaching a Guy Leonard Law Enforcement critical state of deterioration. Those are capital costs. They are Sarah Miller Government, Education paid for by the state and the County. The County uses bond fundCorrin Howe Community, Business ing to finance large capital projects, which, like a mortgage, must Carrie Munn Staff Writer then be paid back over 20 years. Salary costs are operating costs, Contributing Writers which have to be fully paid out of current revenues, which are Joyce Baki down, due to decreased property assessments. Salary costs recur Keith McGuire every year into the future. Which brings me back to the fact that Susan Shaw P. O. Box 250 . Hollywood, MD 20636 there is no extra money.

Sherrod Sturrock I am also asked, what about a special public safety tax or a special school tax? Who can afford those additional taxes in an era The Calvert Gazette is a weekly newspaper providing news and information for the residents of Calof rising costs and decreasing pay? The very people who seek the vert County. The Calvert Gazette will be available on newsstands every Thursday. The paper is pay raises would have them eaten up by the proposed special taxes. published by Southern Maryland Publishing Company, which is responsible for the form, content, and Our employees deserve higher compensation based on merit, policies of the newspaper. The Calvert Gazette does not espouse any political belief or endorse any but there is no additional money until our economy as a whole product or service in its news coverage. Articles and letters submitted for publication must be signed climbs back from the recession, which is dependent on actions in and may be edited for length or content. The Calvert Gazette is not responsible for any claims made Washington, D. C. and Annapolis and who we elect to hold those by its advertisers. positions.

This is the message that Calvert Hospice is sharing with the community that the time a family might need us doesn’t follow a calendar or occur only during a season, so our message must make an impression that stays with people.

Hospices across the country reach out to raise awareness of the compassionate care that hospice care provides to patients and families coping with serious and life-limiting illness.

We are reminded life’s final seasons can be some of the most fulfilling, especially when patients and families look to hospice care for help and a time to reconnect, forgive and share a family’s love.

The Calvert Hospice team provides expert medical care to keep patients comfortable and able to enjoy time with loved ones. The hospice team answers questions, offer advice on what to expect, and help families with the duties of being a caregiver. The team also provides emotional and spiritual support for the entire family.

With the help of hospice, patients and families alike can focus on what’s most important – enjoying life together and living the final seasons to their fullest. It’s about the quality of life.

“There’s an inaccurate perception among the American public that hospice means you’ve given up,” said J. Donald Schumacher, president and CEO of the National

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Thursday, May 17, 2012

The Calvert Gazette

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Newcomers Want a Chance To Impress

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer John and Marsha Glover cashed in their life savings to start their own business in the middle of an economic downturn.

Glover’s Septic Services, Inc. has been in business since 2006 and has already earned several awards, and provides portable toilets for multi-million dollar construction projects. But they want Calvert County residents to give them a chance too.

Their company’s competition includes septic service companies that have been passed down from father to children along with their loyal clients, according to John Glover.

“We have to prove ourselves every day,” said John. “We have the best and newest equipment. We pride ourselves on customer service. But 90 percent of our residential business is from those people who moved into the county recently.”

Marsha Glover said they are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Rarely will someone call and not get to speak to a human. If they get the voicemail it is because I’m on the other line. I’ll call back within seconds after I finish the call,” she said.

From what they’ve heard, this is unheard of among their competitors. Many of their clients come to them after not being able to talk to a live person, said Marsha.

John came to the business with over 20 years experience in “the trucking industry.

That pretty much covers it all.” He received his training from the National Waste Removal Transporter Association. Marsha is a retired nurse.

She keeps the office going while John keeps the trucks and equipment rolling.

Coincidentally, a week after the Calvert County Department of Economic Development Business Appreciation Week, the Glovers couldn’t offer enough gratitude to those who helped get their business rolling. Their praises did not stop there, but included the Maryland Procurement Technical Assistance Program, the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce and the Calvert County Minority Business Alliance.

“They have done a lot for us. I recommend businesses check with these organizations,” said John.

Glover’s Septic Services started with

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John and Marsha and one truck. Now they are ready to purchase a fourth truck. They were excited to announce they won the contract for Calvert County’s Breezy Point Campgrounds to pump out campers.

Marsha said she loves working for herself. “It’s rewarding and challenging but we started in bad economic times.”

John laughed. “We survived. The competition is complaining about their profits are low. We are waiting to see the good times.”

He believes the economy is in an upswing.

“People hesitant to do regular scheduled cleaning” are starting to call again, he said.

“We would rather do quality rather than quantity,” said John. “Our prices are fair and competitive. We are a small business. We can’t afford to get into a bidding war. If someone offers to do the work for a dollar, I tell them to expect a dollar’s worth of service.”

As for the future, John said, “We are looking to grow bigger. We would like to contribute to Calvert County by hiring locals and adding to the local economy.”

Their awards include: 2007 Calvert County Chamber of Commerce New Business of the Year Award, a 2008 Certificate of Appreciation given by Calvert County Commissioners, a 2008 Secretary's Citation Award, and a nomination for The College of Southern Maryland 2011 Leading Edge Award.

For more information: call Glover's Septic Services at 443-486-4533, see www. gloversseptic.com, or email: gloversseptic@comcast.net. corrin@somdpublishing.net

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The Calvert Gazette

Spotlight On

CASA Signs Contract, CEA Still Waiting

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer Calvert Association of Supervisors and Administrators (CASA) and the Board of Education signed a three-year employment contract, retroactive to July 1, 2011 and in effect until July 30, 2014.

“The contract includes no cost of living adjustment or step increase for fiscal year 2012,” a joint press release reads.

“However, articles for salary and compensation will be reopened for fiscal years 2013 and 2014.”

Changes include additional compensation for professional development work, an incentive program for sick leave use and wellness activities and provisions for limited telecommuting, among others.

Calvert Education Association (CEA) President Debbie Russ spoke at the meeting, saying she has expected to be signing a similar contract for teachers, but they still have not reached an agreement.

“CEA recognizes the work that CCPS administrators do to support public education in our county. However, our teachers should receive something comparable in their contract to the administrators,” she said during the meeting. “The next time I come to a board meeting, it should be to sign a contract.”

She said the board and CEA are at a zero-zero option, which she acknowledged is a start, but they need to come to an agreement. Neither side will get everything they want, but she said negotiations mean both sides will “come away with something of value.”

One sticking point is CEA seeking salary increases to be included in the Superintendent’s proposed budget to show support for teachers.

“Other counties in our area included designated salary lines in their proposed budgets, why is Calvert the exception?” she asked.

The board also signed their proposed budget to be forwarded to the county. The county told the board they would receive approximately $107 million, but the budget was built around approximately $111 million, which Superintendent Jack Smith was the minimum needed to operate without doing too much damage to the school district.

“To reduce our budget, it hurts the school system,” said board president Rose Crunkleton. “We need to fund at the maximum level possible.”

The board also approved sending a letter with the budget explaining the need for more funding. Smith said they will be cutting positions in the next year, but a common misconception is if people aren’t being fired, the schools are not cutting back employment. He said when people retire or leave their jobs, the district is simply not hiring people to take their place, therefore trimming for the budget without pink slips when possible. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

Thursday, May 17, 2012

18

Students Support Cancer Fight with Rally

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer Mill Creek Middle School brought the community together last Friday in a multi-purpose pep rally to acknowledge student positive behaviors, donate hair to Locks of Love and to raise money for the school’s Relay for Life Team.

Vice Principal Abbe Gray said the school donated hair once before to Locks of Love, an organization with a mission “to return a sense of self, confidence and

Patuxent High School Principal Nancy Highsmith came to the middle school to donate her hair. A Mill Creek student made the first cut while professional hair stylist Lara Townsend supervised and dean Bert Forrest commentated.

normalcy to children suffering from hair loss by utilizing donated ponytails to provide the highest quality hair prosthetics to financially disadvantaged children.”

Staff, parents, students, former staff, former students and community members who had more than 10 inches of hair to cut sat in front of an audience of sixth through eighth grade students. According to Gray, the students don’t normally have to pay for participation in a rally, but in this case a $2 per student fee went to the Relay for Life team, which is an event to raise money for the American Cancer Society as well as to honor those who have battled cancer. On the day of the event $769 was raised.

Students who earned Diamond Bucks through the school’s positive behavior program were able to enter for a chance to cut off the ponytails of the 16 females and one male donating their hair.

Then women from several local hair salons donated their time and skills to reshape the donator’s hair into style after.

Hannah Pulley, a ninth grader at Patuxent High School, returned to have her hair cut again. She said she participated in the drive three years ago.

Darren Olliver, a sixth grader at Mill Creek, was very nervous as Beth Roberts from Sports Clips divided his hair into two pony tails. He said he had been growing his hair for three years for the purpose of donating it to Locks of Love. He said he had a step aunt who died of cancer and her story touched him.

The event was a family affair for some. Gray donated her hair along with her two daughters, Sawyer and Garren.

Their father was taking pictures. Math teacher Jennifer Murphy’s husband was

Photo By Corrie M. Howe Mill Creek Middle School Vice Principal Abbe Gray is the first to have a student cut the first ten inches. Emily Ridenowner, according to the school’s dean Bert, Forrest, will be able to boast how “bad” she was. “I cut the vice principal’s hair in school and no one did anything about it.”

there for support, as well as Murphy’s hair stylist. In fact, Murphy wouldn’t let anyone but Lara Townsend, who works out of her home, cut her hair.

Mill Creek’s Dean Bert Forrest didn’t donate his hair, but he wore a wig and kept the audience informed and entertained.

He opened the rally with, “We all know someone who has been affected by cancer.

We will take a brief moment to remember them.”

Second PLANS Summit a Success

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer

as go into classrooms for a nutrition limitation experiment.

Lacouture said the students are involved Students from all over the county “on their own volition.” He said there were apfilled the seats and poster projects covproximately 40 projects submitted for display ered the tables during the second annual at this year’s summit, and involvement has PLANS Student Summit at Huntingtown doubled in the past year.

High School on Saturday.

Huntingtown High School Senior TamaPlankton And Nutrient Studies for the ki Hindle said PLANS is a good program for Chesapeake Bay (PLANS) is funded by a students to be involved in. three-year grant from the National Ocean“I don’t think students understand why ographic and Atmospheric Administration the bay’s so terrible,” she said.

(NOAA). PLANS provides a hands-on After going on the PLANS field trip, stuexperiences for students to investigate nudents conducted their own experiments and trient enrichment and the role of plankton research. Huntingtown junior Jessica Worand oysters in the ecology of Chesapeake wood said she and a partner got samples from Photo by Sarah Miller Bay and its tributaries. the bay and Huntingtown Creek and tested Professor Richard Lacouture, senior Huntingtown High School Junior Jessica them at school. Worwood said the water from scientist with the Morgan State University Worwood talks about the water quality the creek was a little more polluted, but neiEstuarine Research Center at Jefferson project she did with a partner. ther water sample was in great shape.

Patterson Park, said PLANS is being funded as part of NOAA’s Estuarine Research Center Education Coordinator Stella B-WET program. The goal is to build the program so, at the end Sellner said she is thrilled with student participation in PLANS. of three years, it is ready to turn over to the schools.

“It just keeps getting more awesome,” she said. “It’s a dream “We’re hoping they’re gonna take the ball and run with it,” come true.”

Lacouture said.

She said the teachers, the schools and even the local governSpeakers at this year’s summit included former state senator ment have been supportive of PLANS, and she has high hopes Bernie Fowler and Smithsonian Environmental Research Center that it will continue when the grant runs out.

Marine Scientist Dr. Denise Breitburg.

For more information, contact Sellner at 410-586-9700 x PLANS workers bring in students from Honors and AP En- 5024 or stella.sellner@morgan.edu. vironmental Science Classes county wide for fieldtrips, including water quality testing and an oyster feeding experiment, as well sarahmiller@countytimes.net

19

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Mt. Harmony is State Winner in MESA Challenge

The Maryland State Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) Challenge Competition occurred at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel MD on Monday, May 7.

Calvert County Public Schools were represented by Mount Harmony Elementary School, Southern Middle School, Northern Middle School, Calvert High School, and Northern High School.

This year’s Challenges included a new computer game challenge at the middle and high school levels. The computer game challenges were designed for Maryland MESA by engineers at the Applied Physics Laboratory, a partner of Maryland MESA and host of the State Competition. The middle school challenge is The Interactive Game Design with Alice. The high school challenge is Cyber Challenge Virtual Robot Maze which requires students to program the game that they design in Python Programming Language.

Mount Harmony Elementary School is overall Elementary School State Winner for Maryland MESA Challenge Competition 2012.

In the Basswood Bridge Challenge, Mount Harmony is the First Place State Winner. In the Effective Communication Challenge, Mount Harmony is the Second Place State Winner. In the Scratch Banner Challenge, Mount Harmony is the Second Place State Winner. In the Story Book Theme Park Ride Challenge, Mount Harmony is the Second Place State Winner.

The Mount Harmony Elementary MESA team sponsors are Kristen Gutherie and Katie Sinclair. Liz Gebelein is the principal.

In the Middle School Challenge Competitions, Northern Middle School is the Third Place State Winner of the Wind Energy Challenge (WEC). The Northern Middle School Sponsors are Carl Hautmann and John Phillips. Darrel Prioleau is the principal.

Southern Middle School is the Third Place State Winner in the Interactive Game Design with Alice Challenge. In the Basswood Bridge Challenge, Southern Middle School is the Third Place State Winner. In the Effective Communication Challenge, Southern Middle School is the First Place State Winner. The Southern Middle School Sponsors are Lorraine Dunigan and Sherry Mansfield. The school principal is Dr. Cheryl Johnson.

Student Honored for Latin Study St. Mary’s Ryken junior John-Aubrey Stone, of Lusby, received the Classics Book Award from Randolph College, formerly Randolph Macon, in Lynchburg, Va. Stone was nominated by his Latin teacher, Sam Spaulding, who said he is a “gifted reader of Latin. His curiosity about the ancient world motivates him in a focused effort to understand what he is reading and why it was written.”

As a token of encouragement, the college presented Stone with a copy of “The Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World.” Students who earn this award and maintain an excellent high school record, are strong candidates for the Randolph College Classics Scholarship that ranges in value from $6,000 to $20,000.

Spotlight On

Calverton Student Headed ‘Down Under’ to Play Basketball

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer Basketball has been a large part of Shannon Moore’s life since she was in 7th grade.

So when the chance came along to play basketball in Australia as part of the Maryland team, she was all for it.

Moore, a junior at the Calverton School, said she received the letter inviting her to participate in the Down Under Sports Tournament in mid-April. The letter “came as a surprise” because she said she didn’t even know she had been recommended for the tournament, let alone who recommended her.

Moore said she and her parents learned more about the group through informational packets and a webinar before making the commitment to go.

The organization dates back to before Moore was born. George O’Scanlon started Down Under Sports in February 1989, according to a press release supplied by Moore. The 2012 Down Under Sports program will include competitions in football, cheerleading, basketball, volleyball and other sports.

“Down Under Sports’ goal is to continue to provide athletes who excel in their sport the opportunity to experience the culture, beauty and grandeur of the land Down Under all within the framework of spirited and intense competition,” the press release reads.

Moore said she will be gone July 8 – 16, getting time to sightsee in Australia as well as competing in the tournament. The final three days will be spent vacationing in Hawaii, which Moore said is an “added bonus” for the whole team.

Michelle Moore said this is the “opening of a door” for her daughter, and she is excited for Shannon’s opportunity.

Moore was captain and MVP of the Calverton basketball team last year. She said she will play basketball for with the Lady Clippers

Shannon Moore

in Waldorf during the summer, and intends to play basketball in college.

“You use what you love to excel,” Moore said, explaining she hopes to get a basketball scholarship for college, though she said she doesn’t plan to continue professionally.

Moore will not be going for free. She has to raise $6,000 by June 1, and is searching for sponsors to help get the funds. She has sent out sponsorship letters to family and friends asking them to donate to her cause. Donations have to be made through Down Under Sports.

Moore said any money given to her directly to pay for the trip will result in her losing her amateur player status and the possibility of scholarships for basketball, she said.

Anybody interested in making a donation can visit www.downundersports.com and click on the “sponsor an athlete” tab on the top. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

Girls Club Plans to Take Show on the Road

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer The Who Says Girls Club welcomed girl scouts, county commissioners and other officials to celebrate the unveiling of their new skit, aimed to inform students about the importance of good self-esteem and respect for others and the dangers of gossip, bullying and peer pressure.

Jessica Austin, one of the founding members, said she and a friend started the club in August 2011 after a bullying incident in their classroom. The club is made up of girls between the ages of 10 and 13.

Currently, the club consists of Austin, Rebecca Proctor, Laura Phelps, Jasmine Holder, Megan Coffren and Danielle Langford. One project they have been working on is a five-act skit about various issues young people face. The group first performed their skit for Delegate Mark Fisher (R 27-B) and they invited several county officials to come to the first performance front of a larger audience.

Several local girl scouts, state’s attorney Laura Martin and Commissioner Pat Nutter were among those in attendance at the performance at the Northeast Community Center. Austin said wants to “get the show on the road” and is looking forward to performing for other schools and student groups.

The mothers of the girls said they wished more county officials had taken them up on the invitation to come, and they are

grateful to the people who supported the girls so far. Lauren Austin, Jessica Austin’s mother, said the parents and families of the girls have been actively involved in the group.

While some of the girls go to Windy Hill Middle School together, word of mouth has brought in young ladies other schools like Plum Point Middle School and Cardinal Hickey Academy.

Langford is one of the newest members, having joined the club a couple weeks ago. She said heard about the club through the Twin Beach Players and thought it sounded like a good group to join.

Their skit isn’t the only project the girls have been working on. Right now, they are raising money to adopt a family at Christmas, something they first did in December 2011. The club adopted a family with two young boys. In addition, they have been spending time with homeless children as a way to give back to their community.

Along with offering ways to be involved in the community, the club has had a positive effect on the girls socially.

Coffren said the club has helped her break out of her shell and get involved in her community. Austin echoed Coffren’s feelings, saying the group has helped her build self-esteem and forge new friendships.

Photo by Sarah Miller Girls interested in attending the next meeting should e-mail Sixth grade students Megan Coffren (Plum Point Middle or call Lauren Austin at lgaustin@comcast.net 443-550-3761.

School) and Laura Phelps (Windy Hill Middle School) sarahmiller@countytimes.net

during a performance of their play at the Northeast Community Center.

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, May 17, 2012

20

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.

Go Ahead. Pet the Monster. It Won’t Bite.

By Carrie Munn Staff Writer Southern Maryland cover band Pet the Monster will celebrate its one year anniversary at this Saturday’s show at Gilligan’s Pier. In that year, the five-member band has honed its skills and become a crowd pleaser at multiple venues throughout the region, all while building a friendship and fun-loving mentality that keeps the group together.

This past Saturday, the group played to a diverse crowd at Swampy’s Tiki Bar, the waterfront, outdoor entertainment hotspot adjacent to Seabreeze Restaurant.

The crab house was packed, as staff prepared for backto-back Mother’s Day bookings the following day, and so was the sand, as patrons enjoyed a drink and danced to the tunes Pet the Monster was cranking out.

After forming via ads on Craigslist, the members, who live throughout the tri-county area, started practicing in drummer Joe Sala’s Indian Head studio.

Guitarist Danny Fisher told The County Times, “We’re just five guys with five different attitudes trying to put something good together.”

Sala, who has played drums since 1984, said, “We don’t go throwing our egos around.”

Vocalist Charlie Dillard said for a group of musicians with no existing histories, they’ve become friends.

“A lot of bands come together, then fall apart, but we’ve been able to stick with it because we’re friends.”

Fisher originated the band’s unique name and, simply put, it stuck.

Dillard added Pet the Monster was not only unique and catchy, but also marketable. Their band logo on tshirts is something everyone can have fun with, he said.

Bassist Jim Noble takes care of the band’s webpage and said he got his first bass in 1974, when lead guitarist Mitch Jones was 2 years old. “I’ve played in a lot of bands, recorded a lot, but this is such a diverse group,”

Noble said. “When we started, we didn’t even know each other, so we’re very lucky to have what we have.”

Jones is somewhat soft-spoken, but lets loose through his guitar. Playing since the age of 10, he said he’s down for playing just about anything, but named Megadeth’s Marty Friedman and Alex Skolnick of Testament as his biggest influences. “Their style is thrash, but melodic. It’s instantly recognizable when you hear it and that’s my goal, to be able to create something outside the box and completely my own,” he said.

Fellow guitarist Fisher said he was influenced early on by Bad Company, but has recently found Zakk Wylde’s heavy sound in Black Label Society pleasing to the ear. “It’s totally different than what we play, but that’s what does it for me,” he said.

Sala, who provides beats for other projects, but con-

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siders Pet the Monster his main focus, said he has found inspiration in the likes of Neil Peart of Rush, Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham and Stewart Copeland of The Police, as well as several esteemed jazz drummers.

Noble is also a Rush fan, nodding to bassist Geddy Lee and Billy Sheehan of Mr. Big, as well as jazz bassist Marcus Miller.

High-energy lead singer Dillard said he likes entertainers like Michael Jackson and Billy Joel. “They tell stories with their songs and are intriguing to me.” He said he also likes Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Anthony Kiedis and bass-heavy tunes.

Pet the Monster played some Chili Peppers, as well as everything from Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name” to Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger.” Dillard had to censor himself due to little ears during their cover of “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails and got the crowd wound up Aerosmith’s “Sweet Emotion” and country hit “What Was I Thinking?” by Dierks Bentley.

“A lot of the songs we choose have been number one hits at one time or another,” he said.

Dillard said he’s found an outlet for all the ideas in his head, as Sala helps him record some music he’ll eventually share with his bandmates, in hopes they can put their collective musicianship to work in writing parts to create original music.

Sala said while the group plays covers during their three-hour-long sets, eventually they’ll start throwing out originals to see how the crowd reacts to them.

When asked why someone should come out and catch a Pet the Monster show, Dillard said, “It doesn’t matter who or what you are, where you work or where you’re from, it’s all about having fun.”

That was evidenced by the on-stage high-fives and how the members of the band were out chatting up friends and fans during the breaks.

“We all work too hard not to have a good time,” Dillard said.

To find out more about the popular party band and their upcoming gigs, visit www.petthemonster.com. carriemunn@countytimes.net

21

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, May 17, 2012

• Why should kids get to have all the fun this summer?

Calvert Library is hosting a reading contest for adults that features great books and prizes! If you are 18 or older, be sure to pick up a game board (or two or three) at your local Calvert Library branch. The contest will run from May 15-Aug. 30 and participants are encouraged to enter as many game boards as they can. The more entries a person submits, the more chances they will have to win.

The game boards will challenge players to read or listen to 12 different books that showcase different covers, genres, characters, and settings. Books used may be adult fiction, nonfiction, biography, young adult, or graphic novel. Children’s books may not be used. By the time players have turned in their boards, they will have read a little of this and a little of that and had a lot of fun in the process.

For more information, visit any Calvert Library location or visit us on the web at http://calv.lib.md.us.

• Mikulski Aid to Speak The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), Calvert County Chapter 1466, will meet at 1 p.m. on Thursday May 17 at the Calvert Pines Senior Center, West Dares Beach Rd. Prince Frederick, MD. There will be a short presentation by Kirsten Soper from MD Senator Mikulski’s office, followed by a business meeting. Also, join us for an early lunch at 11:15 a.m., this month at Mama Lucia’s in Prince Frederick. Active and Retired Federal employees, spouses, members, non-members and guests are welcome. For NARFE membership Information and Application, Call 410-586-1441.

• Fairies in the Garden – Dedicated to Pat Carpenter Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center presents a very magical Annmarie After Hours on Friday, May 18, 2012, 6 – 9 p.m. in celebration of 70 fairy and gnome homes, created by members of the community! Annmarie Garden dedicates this year’s Fairies in the Garden exhibit to Pat Carpenter, former Executive Director of the Arts Council of Calvert County, who passed away in March 2012. Pat Carpenter’s zest and enthusiasm for life and love of the arts will be celebrated on this special night.

If you have not been to Annmarie Garden recently, May 18 is the time to visit! For more information visit www.annmariegarden.org or call: 410.326.4640.

• Church-Wide Yard Sale Saint Nicholas Lutheran Church is hosting a big church-wide yard sale on Saturday, May 19, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The church is located at 1450 Plum Point Road, Huntingtown. For more information, contact Kay Aronhalt, 301-855-1656.

•Basket Bingo Our Lady Star of the Sea School wants YOU to shout out BINGO while you have fun with friends and family at our event on May 19. Join us for the fun at our Longaberger event. Doors open at 5 p.m. and games start at 6 p.m.

Call NOW for your reservation at 410-

Out&About

326-9036 (Melissa Richardson) Reserve your seat and qualify for a chance to win the “Carry Me Away Tote.” 20 regular games, 5 special games, Pull- Tabs for baskets, Door Prizes, Raffle for a set of 3 Planters! Concessions available.

Our Lady is located at 90 Alexander Lane, Solomons, MD 20688.

group is performing on May 19, 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Church, St. Mary’s College; and Sunday, May 20, 3 p.m. at All Saints Church in Sunderland.

No admission but donations accepted at the door. Check the website for details, www.patuxentvoices.org.

Due to the generosity of book lovers cleaning out their shelves for their Spring cleaning, the Calvert Library is overstocked with a huge assortment of donated books and videos! Help us spin gold out of this lovely stock by coming to the Friends of Calvert Library Super Sidewalk Used Book Sale on Saturday, May 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Calvert Library Prince Frederick (850 Costley Way) and Sunday, May 20, from 12-4 p.m. Buy from the fantastic selection of gently used books – fiction, nonfiction and videos. Thousands of books will be available at great prices! Stock up for your summer beach reading!

Sunday offers a particularly exciting day out for the whole family. Garrett Music Academy and Market Square Retail Center are putting on a Community Arts event.

In addition to the Friends Book Sale, there will be live music, art displays and even the chance for you to make your own chalk art on the sidewalk! There will be food available from the local restaurants so come prepared for a full, festive afternoon. There is still space for artists who want to display their art but call soon! For more information, call Robyn Truslow at 410-535-0291.

Patterson and have tea in the garden at Point Farm. The funds raised will used to benefit restoration of the decorative gates in Rose Greely’s historic walled garden and at the front entrance.

Mothers, daughters, family, friends are invited to enjoy a spring afternoon in grand style in the garden of a truly significant site and one of the most beautiful places in Calvert County. This event also commemorates Jefferson Patterson’s 121st birthday.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for children ten and under. To make reservations, call 410-586-8501. Call soon, as the event is expected to sell out.

For more information, visit www.jefpat.org.

certs for the benefit of charities in Calvert County. The chorus has raised over $52,000 for these charities.

• Children’s Day on the Farm

• Tea in the Garden at Point • Super Sidewalk Sale & Farm Market Square Community Enjoy this rare opportunity from 2-4 Art Event p.m. May 20 to tour the home of Jefferson

• Asbury Sale There will be a sale on May 19, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Asbury Solomons Retirement Community, 11000 Asbury Circle, Solomons, in the auditorium.

This will include Betty’s Closet a resale of new and gently used clothing, accessories and jewelry.

The library committee will also have many books on sale at great prices.

Grannies Treasures will also be selling housewares, furniture and many miscellaneous items.

All proceeds will benefit the Benevolent Care Fund.

For information, call 410-394-3483.

• Southern Maryland Encore Chorale Encore Creativity for Older Adults presents a Spring Concert – Southern Maryland Encore Chorale – Conducted by Krystal Rickard McCoy. The event will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 19, 2012 at Calvert Marine Museum 14200 Solomons Island Road, Solomons Island.

Admission is free. For more information see EncoreCreativity.org or call 301-261-5747.

• Over the Rainbow: A Musical Tribute to Yesteryear This spring Patuxent Voices takes a sentimental journey through the great pop tunes from the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. The

• Music for the Spring Chesapeake Community Chorus' next concert "Music for the Spring" is at Friendship United Methodist Church, 22 W. Friendship Road, Friendship, MD, Sunday, May 20, 5:00 pm. A free will offering will be taken for their H. O. M.E. Team (Hands On Mission Experience) which is a homerepair outreach ministry The group assists needy families in Calvert and southern Anne Arundel countries with home repairs and handicap structures. The concert will feature contemporary, gospel, classical Christian and secular music by John Rutter, Mary McDonald, Samuel Ward, Phillip Bliss, Peter Choplin, and others. Our special guest, Mother Goose, will introduce for the young and young in heart, five nursery rhymes as well as the famous story of 'The Tortoise and the Hare'. Other songs will include: 'America the Beautiful, and 'Down to the River to Pray'. A free-will offering will be taken to support the Calvert Hospice House. The Chorus is a volunteer group of thirty singers in its 9th season giving con-

On Sunday, June 3, from 11 am.. until 5 p.m., Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum (JPPM) will welcome back Children’s Day on the Farm with a mix of classic favorites and new attractions. The event is free and offers a wide range of hands-on activities and demonstrations centered on Southern Maryland rural traditions.

Children’s Day on the Farm will feature opportunities for visitors to learn about, and try their hand at many traditional rural skills, such as corn shelling, butter-churning, and weaving. Animal lovers will enjoy multiple petting zoos set up by local farms and 4H clubs, which will include chickens, goats, dogs, horses, and more. Oxen cart rides and pony rides will round out this day of barnyard fun!

Antique tractors, cars, trucks, and farm machinery will be on display throughout the day. Little barrel train rides, pedal tractors, and small engines will complement the antique equipment.

Musical performances by artists such as Ray Owens and Jay Armsworthy and Eastern Tradition will take place throughout the day. Live children’s entertainment will include the Blue Sky Puppet Theater, storytelling with Horn’s Punch and Judy Show, magic with Ken the Magician, and the award-winning Old MacDonald Farm Heritage Show.

For more information about Children’s Day on the Farm, contact us at 410-5868501 or jppm@mdp.state.md.us. Children’s Day on the Farm will be held rain or shine.

Blessing of the Fleet The Solomons Island Yacht Club (SIYC) will conduct the Annual Blessing of the Fleet for all boats in the Solomons area on Sunday, May 20, 2012. This ceremony originated many years ago to bless the fishing fleet for a safe and successful season, and is continued to this day for that purpose.

SIYC, one of the oldest yacht clubs on the Chesapeake Bay, was founded in 1937.

The club has one of the largest burgee displays in its captain’s lounge. A burgee is a distinguishing flag of a recreational boating organization. Among their burgees is one from the Royal Cork Yacht Club, Cork Ireland, the oldest yacht club in the world (est.

1720). Currently, SIYC displays 357 burgees from 30 states in the U.S. and 34 foreign countries. They have been provided by SIYC members returning from many worldwide cruising locations and by visiting members from other clubs.

The events will begin with a wreath laying ceremony at the Waterman’s Memorial on the Solomons River Walk at 11 a.m. followed by the Club Commissioning and Flag Raising Ceremony at 1 p.m. at the SIYC. The public is cordially invited to attend these events. This is the 75th anniversary of the SIYC and the Blessing of the Fleet holds a special meaning for the entire Solomons area.

All boaters are invited to participate in the boat parade and Blessing of the Fleet.

The boat parade will begin at approximately 2:30 p.m. in the harbor and can be viewed by spectators from the Solomons River Walk.

For more information, call 410-326-3718 or email Jimshepherd@comcast.net.

The Calvert Gazette

ner

KiddKioer

CLUES ACROSS

1. Exploiter 5. Gaultheria shallon 10. Having a slanted direction 14. Capital of Elam 15. Japanese mushroom 16. Lake in Estonia 17. Walk heavily 18. Moroccan capital 19. Arabian gulf 20. The act of pillage 22. Bad-tempered 24. Capital of Yemen 26. A unit of illumination 27. Tell on 30. Half woman and half fish 32. An arbitrageur 35. Having winglike extensions or parts 37. Auto 38. Big eyed scad genus 40. Ringlet 41. Brew 42. Roam at random 43. Select by vote 45. Coney 46. Actress Zellweger 47. Father 48. United States of 51. The last part of anything 52. Watering places

Thursday, May 17, 2012

53. Adventure story 55. Animal disease 58. Unintelligible talking 62. Stout beating stick 63. Italian opera set 67. Hungarian Violinist Leopold 68. Cheremis language 69. 55120 MN 70. County in Northern Ireland 71. So. American nation 72. Pores in a leaf 73. Swiss river

CLUES DOWN

1. Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 2. 1973 Toni Morrison novel 3. Employee stock ownership plan 4. Finger millets 5. At peace 6. Nursing group 7. Tennis return in a high arc 8. Alias 9. Chinese fruit with jellylike pulp 10. Swell or distend 11. Unstressed-stressed

22

12. Whale ship captain 13. No baloney electronics mfg.

21. Entity designation 23. Fishing sticks 25. Shopping passageways 26. A slight or partial paralysis 27. Sped 28. Bastard wing 29. ___ and feathered 31. Of cheekbone 32. Unaccompanied 33. Black bird 34. To bear offspring 36. Educational cable channel 39. Before 44. Adhesive, ticker or duct 46. Sanskrit for color, melody 49. The common people 50. Dressing room by the sea 52. City on the Cibin River 54. Manila hemp 55. Canadian law enforcers 56. Winglike structures 57. Jefferson’s V.P. 59. Daughter of Ion 60. Jet or King 61. Sea eagle 64. Nine knotted cord whip 65. Consciousness of your own identity 66. 60’s veterans battleground

Last Week’s Puzzle Solutions

23

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Sp rts

See Food Diet The Ordinary

Angler

Mitchell Goddard - Ray Hunter

By Keith McGuire Contributing Writer Fishing season is now in full swing. Don’t forget that we can now keep stripers over 18” (two per person, but only one can be over 28”).

The Maryland Saltwater Sportfishing Association announced the winners of their spring rockfish tournament held May 4 – 6.

The big money winner was Glenn Orr of Severna Park who won $69,476.00 for a 42.1 pound striper that he caught on the last day of the tournament. He beat out Joe Klug of Glen Burnie who caught a 36.65 pound striper.

Speaking of tournaments, the Kent Narrows Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association, Maryland is hosting a Catch

and Release Striper Tournament on June 2.

This is a major Bay-Area tournament with a boundary to the north at the Sassafras River and Cedar Point to the south. It is not a big money tournament like the MSSA tournament, but includes some very nice prizes and a pig roast at the photo weigh-in at Jetty Restaurant at Kent Narrows. You can find further details at www.ccamd.org.

This Thursday, May 17th at 7:00 PM at the Solomons Fire Hall, the Southern Maryland Chapter of MSSA will host a very interesting meeting. The guest speakers will be two of the premier light-tackle guides who regularly fish our area of the Bay: Captains

A View From The

Brady Bounds and “Walleye” Pete Dahlberg.

These two gentlemen provide excellent presentations and will fill your knowledge tackle box with lots of methods and tips that will put more fish in your creel. This meeting is open to the public and can’t be missed by any serious Bay angler.

Another meeting that can’t be missed is coming up next Monday. Joe Cap, a member of the pro staffs for St. Croix Rods and Rio, will discuss what makes a high quality fishing rod for the Chesapeake Bay at the Monday, May 21 meeting of the Coastal Conservation Association’s Patuxent River Chapter.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at Stoney’s Kingfisher in Solomons and is free and open to the public. Attendees can order from the Stoney’s menu at 6 p.m. Cap, who has built custom

Bleachers

By Ronald N. Guy Jr. Contributing Writer

As Buffalo Springfield once said, “there’s something happening here…and what it is ain’t exactly clear.”

For 20 years Washington D.C. sports has been a gory horror flick on a continuous loop. It’s been so bad, for so long that District sports fans have forgotten how to support a winner. This was once a fan base that carried itself with a confident swagger and puffed out its chest at any mouthy challenger. Now, our profound pessimism, the product of nearly peerless futility, is so omnipotent that we snuff out any indication of better days and will our negative prophecies into reality. You see, D.C. is the town where a fan’s hope goes to die. That’s just how it is…and at this point we can’t imagine it any other way.

With that odd but true rant over, it’s understandable why the recent confluence of goodness that’s descended upon the nation’s capital has been so confounding. First, the ‘Skins boldly ac-

quired Robert Griffin III – the exact person, player and position the franchise and fan base needed.

Then the Capitals, perennial playoffs disasters that they mostly have been, seem to have hacked into the winning formula for playoff hockey and pleasantly overachieved this year. And finally, while even jaded Nationals fans would have acknowledged the team’s likely improvement this year, I don’t think anyone expected them to be this good. Despite a rash of injuries, the Nats keep winning behind the tried and true formula of exceptional pitching and timely hitting. What’s more promising though – for both the short- and longterm - is the return to form of pitching ace Stephen Strasburg and the recent addition of a teenage sparkplug.

Bryce Harper, 19, isn’t just another prospect. Harper, who followed Strasburg as the Nationals’ second consecutive #1 overall pick in the MLB draft, was from day one considered a franchise-altering talent. Like most teenag-

rods for years at Shore Tackle and Custom Rods in Grasonville, will discuss technologies for light tackle, trolling, jigging and fly rods. He’ll describe the different weights, actions, guides, and other materials in effective rods; and will identify the best types of rods for fishing in the Bay. Judging by the Buzz’s Marina Website (www.buzzsmarina.com) and the photos taken by the good folks at The Tackle Box in Lexington Park, fishing is really going well.

Stripers continue to be the dominant catch, but there are plenty of croaker and white perch being caught, as well. The change in the size limit will open striper fishing to more light tackle enthusiasts this week.

As you fish the area, you may see small boats with an archer on the front as it moves along slowly in a given area. These archers are looking for cow-nosed rays, which are now here in good numbers. A nuisance to ordinary anglers (like me!), the rays provide true sport to some of the local archers who enjoy the springtime occasion to hone their skills.

Look for crabbing action to pick up in the next two weeks.

Remember to take a picture of your catch and send it to me with your story at riverdancekeith@gmail.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.

Youth Gone Viral

ers, Harper’s performance to date has been inconsistent and there were rumblings about his arrogance and immaturity. The organization’s plan was to season Harper a little more at Triple-A and call him up later in the year. Injuries and a desperate need for some offensive pop accelerated Harper’s ascent and he was tapped to make his major league debut on April 28th.

Let me admit this up front: except for a few random minor league clips, I hadn’t laid eyes on Harper between the lines until he threw on a Nationals uniform. I expected to see an ordinary pro with flashes of exceptional talent.

By “ordinary pro” I mean a guy who glides through games with a grace that indicates he is perhaps more concerned about pacing himself through a 162game regular season rather than exerting maximum effort to win any particular game. You know what I’m talking about. Major League games are littered with batters jogging out fly balls or running out base hits with the assumption the outfield will field it cleanly as opposed to “thinking two” from the crack of the bat and looking to capitalize on the slightest bobble in the outfield.

That’s just how major-leaguers play the game.

Harper didn’t get that memo. Harper, bursting with youthful exuberance,

plays like there’s no game tomorrow, never mind the ~125 games remaining this summer. He hustles out every ball, throws his body all over the field and regularly exits with a bloodied and heavily soiled uniform. The kid’s crashtest-dummy approach reminds me of the passion regularly on display during the County’s Rocking Chair Softball League’s hey day. Indeed, Harper would have fit right in with Pennies, the Hollywood Stars and the legendary Hobos.

On a major league diamond, though, Harper’s effort looks out of place. It is, however, unequivocally contagious. You can see it in the joyously infected eyes of the Nats’ coaches and Harper’s teammates. Harper’s ornery determination is making the occasionally mundane baseball regular season fun and it’s translating to wins. Call it the gift of youth. It’s something every organization can use a shot of. Harper’s enthusiasm and his team’s success are even threatening to lift the pessimistic haze from over D.C. and its expansive suburbia. Yikes…what are we going to do???

Send comments to rguyjoon@yahoo. com

Choose Your Route to Savings The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, May 17, 2012

24

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