2013-10-31 The County Times

Thursday, October 31, 2013

www.countytimes.somd.com

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Daylight Savings Time Ends Sunday, November 3rd

Paul DiBiase, foreground, and Nick Clark work on electronics projects at the new PaxSpace workshop in Hollywood that they hope will blossom into a place where members can expand their knowledge and teach others valuable skills.

A Place For Thinkers, Shapers and Makers Page 20

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The County Times

Thursday, October 31, 2013

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The County Times

Thursday, October 31, 2013

“The compensation of employees is one of many issues we’re investigating.”

Thursday October 31, 2013

16

- Capt. Daniel Alioto, vice/narcotics unit commander, about the search and seizure operation at TRP Casino in Charlotte Hall.

4 Local News 10 Cops & Courts 12 Business 14 Letters 16 Education 18 Newsmaker 19 Navy News 20 Feature Story 21 Design Diaries 22 Senior 22 History 23 Sports 26 Obituaries 28 Community 32 Community Calendar 34 Entertainment 35 Entertainment Calendar 36 Classifieds 37 Business Directory 38 Games 39 Wanderings of an Aimless Mind 39 Joyce to the World

P.O. Box 250 Hollywood, Maryland 20636 News, Advertising, Circulation, Classifieds: 301-373-4125

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The County Times

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Local

4

News

Little Opposition to Text Amendments at Public Hearing

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer The Board of County Commissioners must now decide whether to approve two text amendments that could help break the de facto moratorium on development in town centers like Charlotte Hall after a public hearing on the measures brought out little strong opposition.

Only a few in the development community came to actively support the proposed text amendments but they said relieving site plans of less than 5,000 square feet from adequate public facilities requirements as well as allowing developers to mitigate traffic impacts in town centers to the same standards as in large development districts like Lexington Park and Leonardtown would be beneficial to the local economy.

Phil Shire, head of the county’s Department of Land Use and Growth Management, said that non-resident building additions like the one covered in one text amendment were “ such a small use that they typically generate little traffic.”

“They don’t warrant full finding for public facilities and should be exempted,” Shire said.

As to the other text amendment, which would allow builders to move ahead with their projects if they mitigated traffic impacts, Shire said that currently county ordinances did not allow approval if intersections that went below what is known as a level of service “C” though level “D” is acceptable for development districts.

“Any operation has to mitigate its own traffic plus some other trips,” Shire said of the amendment, which essentially meant that a developer would have to make the traffic situation at their project at least marginally better than it had been before.

Charlotte Hall developer John K. Parlett, Jr. said the intersections in the northern section of the county were not actually failing by state standards but were held to an artificially high county standard.

He said that worries by residents that too much development would lead to the nearly unfettered growth as seen in places like Waldorf in Charles County were unfounded.

“We have [zoning] controls in place to make sure that never happens,” Parlett said.

Thomas F. McKay, president and COO of the McKay family food stores, said their project had been stalled for years in Charlotte Hall and promised to mitigate traffic impacts if the text amendment passed.

He also said that for many small businesses to attain a level of service “C” designation would often be too expensive.

He said he supported limited and controlled growth.

“We have no desire to do business in a place that is like Waldorf,” McKay said.

Charlotte Hall resident Dale Burch was concerned the text amendments did not push developers to make the traffic improvements quickly.

“It does not have any provision for time limits for traffic mitigation,” Burch told the Board of County Commissioners. “I’m concerned there’s no control on this aspect of the project.”

Tom Williams said he arrived at the Leonardtown public hearing after negotiating heavy traffic in Charlotte Hall at 6 p.m. Tuesday night.

“The traffic was backed up all the way into Charles County,” Williams said. “It’s a traffic problem, until that’s done I think everything should be on hold.” guyleonard@countytimes.net

County Government Offices to Close in Observance of Veterans Day STS, Landfill and Convenience Centers to Operate Normal Hours

All St. Mary’s County Government Offices will be closed Monday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veteran’s Day. County Government offices will re-open Tuesday, Nov. 12.

The St. Andrews Landfill, Solid Waste/Recycling Program and six convenience centers will be open for normal operating hours and St. Mary’s Transit System (STS) will run its regular schedule on Monday, Nov. 11.

All St. Mary’s County Libraries and Department of Aging and Human Services Senior Activity Centers will be closed Monday, Nov. 11. There will also be no Meals on Wheels deliveries.

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The County Times

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Local

New Building at Higher Ed Center Eminent

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

Officials from the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center (SMHEC), the University of Maryland System and the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance will sign a formal agreement tomorrow that will allow a new building at the higher education center focusing on technology research and unmanned air systems to be built.

“We’ve agreed to move forward,” said higher education center Board of Governor’s Chairman Joe Anderson. “It will be much larger than the 38,000 square foot building.”

That was the size originally planned for the third building at the center but this new building, which will fall under the auspices of the University of Maryland system, will have that space plus enough to include an unmanned air systems innovation center and space for advanced technology research and a business incubator.

State officials have already appropriated $250,000 for planning the innovation center, Anderson said.

The innovation center has long been considered the centerpiece of a third building at SMHEC as a way to leverage the high technology skills present in St. Mary’s County with

NEWS

state resources to find ways to make commercial applications for unmanned air systems.

Officials who have pushed for the project say it will not only diversify the local economy, but reverse a long period of being underserved by the state’s university system.

Del. John Bohanan (D-Dist. 29B) who has been a key player in getting the university system to take part in the endeavor, said the third building at the campus could help jumpstart real economic diversification not only in unmanned air systems but in robotics and cyber security.

“The talent we have locally is useful to so many other things,” Bohanan said. “This could be the biggest thing to hit the region since the BRAC [base realignment and closure] decisions of the 1990’s.

Those decisions led to the increased growth at the navy base and brought in thousands of new jobs; the research and innovation addition to the higher education center could do the same, he said, but tailored more for the civilian market.

“We’re talking about jobs that don’t depend so much on the ebb and flow of federal spending,” Bohanan said. guyleonard@countytimes.net

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The County Times

Thursday, October 31, 2013

County Gets Millions For Planning Road Improvements

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Maryland Secretary of Transportation’s James T. Smith told the Board of County Commissioners that after significant hikes in the gas tax and toll fees throughout the state the Department of Transportation and the State Highway Administration (SHA) finally have some money to begin projects that have stalled for years.

But the presentation by Smith and his staff showed that only a few projects here are getting major funding and even then for the planning or engineering phases.

In a later interview with The County Times Smith said that for the past four or five years the entire state transportation budget was such that there was no money anywhere in the state for new construction.

The gas tax changed all that.

“If it hadn’t been for the [Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act] we wouldn’t be getting any of these projects out there,” Smith said.

There is now $10 million allotted for engineering of the new Thomas Johnson Bridge over the next six years and $5 million for improvements to the Route 4 corridor leading to it, according to SHA documents.

The entire building project is expected to cost between $800 million and $1 billion.

For Route 5 through Leonardtown, one of the most congested and dangerous sections of county roadway, there is $2.3 million allotted for a study to upgrade the section between Newtowne Neck and Hollywood roads.

Also in Great Mills highway planners have $5

million to begin redesigning the intersection and bridge on Route 5 between the intersections of Great Mills Road and Flat Iron Road where flooding can occur when the St. Mary’s River dam overflows. That planning funding is stretched out over the next six years.

As he spoke to county commissioners Smith was upbeat about finally getting some money for St. Mary’s County projects; Smith has spent recent days traveling the state and talking to county leaders about transportation priorities.

“We say we’re the government and we’re here to help, now we can back it up,” Smith said.

Del. Anthony O’Donnell (R-Dist. 29C), who also attended the meeting, said later that the money coming to St. Mary’s County and indeed other rural counties around the state was much less than what was going to urban centers where mass transit projects were taking up about half of the entire transportation budget.

He said the state could delay multi-billion dollar projects like the Purple Line and use that money to fund road improvements here and around the state first, creating jobs at the same time.

“Less than 9 percent of Marylanders commute through mass transit,” O’Donnell said.

Smith said that though urban jurisdictions had the greater share of funding they also contributed the most through the gas tax.

“I don’t think there’s any inequity there,” Smith said. guyleonard@countytimes.net

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Local

NEWS

Final Household Hazardous Waste Day Coming This Saturday Time is running out for citizens to safely clean out barns, basements, sheds, garages, medicine cabinets, storage areas under kitchen sinks, etc. of hazardous household materials. The final opportunity to discard potentially toxic/dangerous and hazardous household waste materials is this Saturday, Nov. 2.

Residents can drop off hazardous household materials at the St. Andrew’s Landfill between 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Hazardous waste items which will be accepted for collection include Acids, Ammonia, Bleach, Cleaners, Fuels, Gas/Oil Mixtures, Gasoline, Household and Lawn Pesti-

cides, Mercury Thermometers, Paint, Paint Thinners, Photography Chemicals, Pool Chemicals, Solvents, and Wood Preservatives.

Items which will not be accepted include Ammunition, Asbestos, Explosive Materials, Medical Waste, Pharmaceuticals, Radioactive Materials, and Picric Acid.

For more information about the Hazardous Waste Collection day, please contact the St. Mary’s Department of Public Works and Transportation at 301-863-8400. You can also log on to their website at www.co.saint-mar ys.md.us/ dpw/recyclingandsolidwaste. asp.

Hospital Earns Recognition for Business

MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital earned the Maryland Performance Excellence Gold Award - the Maryland state equivalent of the National Baldrige Award. On a national level, the Baldrige Award is presented to organizations that demonstrate high quality in all aspects of its business.

As part of an extensive review process, the Maryland Performance Excellence Award (MPEA) Committee recently conducted an on-site visit. “Going through a Baldrige review is an intensive process,” said MayLou Watson, vice president, nursing. “It also is an incredible learning experience. As a result of the review process, our organization has a new perspective on what we can do even better.”

While at the hospital, ten MPEA review committee members met with administrators, department leaders, physicians and associates from across the hospital to assess the MedStar St. Mary’s qualifications. In addition, the committee reviewed data and discussed processes in place at the hospital which support its business practices as a High Reliability Organization.

One area of focus was how physicians are engaged and contribute to the hospital’s overall excellence. MPEA committee members also studied non-clinical aspects that included leadership, governance, customer satisfaction, workforce engagement and satisfaction, performance improvement, and overall work processes.

“I am so proud of every member of

our hospital team,” said Hospital President Christine Wray. “Each person involved in the review impressed the MPEA committee members and demonstrated by example how we fulfill our vision to be the trusted leader in caring for people and advancing health.”

To be eligible for the national Baldrige Award, organizations must first meet their state’s highest recognition. For Maryland, the Platinum Award represents the highest level of achievement. The state award rankings are certificate, bronze, silver, gold and platinum.

About MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital is a fullservice community hospital, delivering state-of-the-art emergency, acute inpatient and outpatient care in Leonardtown, Md. Nestled in a waterside community, MedStar St. Mary’s provides advanced technology with a dedication to excellence in all services provided. The not-for-profit hospital was recently named among the nation’s Top 100 Hospitals™ and is a seven time recipient of the prestigious Delmarva Medicare Excellence Award. Our staff is committed to providing quality and compassionate medical care for all patients by coupling innovation with our outstanding team of Medical Staff members, associates and volunteers. Visit MedStarStMarys.org to learn more.

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Thursday, October 31, 2013

The County Times

Local

NEWS

The 2013 Community Health Fair, sponsored by the St. Mary’s Department of Aging and Human Services, took place on Friday, Oct. 25. This free event moved to the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center this year, and had success with the new location. The Health Fair is FREE to the public. Flu Shots were available at the Health Fair along with a variety of free screenings and health checks.

For more information call 301-475-4200, ext. 1073 or log-on to www.stmarysmd.com/aging or visit St. Mary’s County Department of Aging & Human Services on Facebook.

2013 Community Health Fair Draws a Large Crowd Photos by Tony Jones, Public Information Officer for St. Mary’s County.

Veterans Day Parade in Leonardtown The St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners, the Commissioners of Leonardtown, and parade organizers invite the public to come out and salute America’s Veterans at the Annual Veterans Day Parade in Leonardtown, on Monday, Nov. 11. The parade commences at 10 a.m. on Fenwick Street and will feature Veterans, dignitaries, elected officials, local high school marching bands, military units, color guards, classic and antique cars, boy and girl scouts, cheerleaders, motorcycles, horses, fire, police, emergency personnel and equipment. Immediately following the parade, spectators are encouraged to remain in the Town Square for a Veterans Memorial Ceremony to include patriotic music, laying of wreaths, and a special tribute to Captain Walter Francis Duke, local WWII hero for whom a new elementary school in Leonardtown is being named.

Members of the St. Mary’s County Historical Society will be available at Tudor Hall from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to talk with visitors about Captain Duke’s story and a display of personal effects, as well as other St. Mary’s County family connections to WWII. Come to the Square early to see a restored MiG-21 cockpit on display, and talk to representatives from Semper Fi, Vacations for Vets, Navy Federal Credit Union, and CSM’s Heroes Campaign, who will be set up in the Square to provide information on programs for veterans and active-duty military, including ways that the general public can help our local military families.

In the event of inclement weather, the Veterans Day Parade would be cancelled, and the Memorial Ceremony would be moved inside to the Leonard Hall Recreation Center Gymnasium, on Route 245 adjacent to the St. Mary’s County Governmental Center Complex (23145 Leonard Hall Drive) at 11 a.m. Those wishing to lay wreaths at the monuments may choose to do so.

Parking and Shuttles for the 2013 Leonardtown Veterans Day Parade Parade vehicles, including buses, floats, emergency vehicles, cars, trucks and motorcycles, should report directly to the staging area at St. Mary’s Ryken High School between 7 and 8 a.m. All parade vehicles should be parked by 8 a.m.

Marching groups and other parade participants should park at Leonardtown Middle School and take the shuttle to St. Mary’s Ryken High School between 8 and 9:30 a.m.

Please do not drop your children off at Ryken High School, on the side of the road or at the intersection. All persons in the parade, not in a vehicle, should ride the shuttle bus from Leonardtown Middle School.

Parade participants are requested to be in place in the lineup at St. Mary’s Ryken High School no later than 9:30 a.m. Please plan accordingly.

Spectators are encouraged to park at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds or College of Southern Maryland Leonardtown Campus and take the round-trip shuttle into downtown Leonardtown to view the parade and ceremony.

Washington Street and Fenwick Street into downtown Leonardtown will be closed to traffic from 8 a.m. until 12 noon. Downtown parking and thru traffic will be limited to areas accessible from Lawrence Avenue, including neighboring side streets and parking areas along Courthouse Drive and Park Avenue. Officers from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office will provide traffic control, and Parade Volunteers will assist with parking and street detours.

Handicapped Parking: Spectators requiring handicapped parking may take Washington Street and upon showing proof of handicapped sticker or need, will be allowed to park in the designated lot behind the Church of the Nazarene.

The annual Veterans Day Parade is sponsored by the Commissioners of Leonardtown, and the St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners. For more information call 301-475-9791 or 301-475-4200 ext. 1342.

The County Times

Local

Thursday, October 31, 2013

8

Hits for Heroes Looks to the Future

NEWS

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer For the past two years the informal committee of concerned residents now known as Hits for Heroes has been putting together fundraising softball tournaments that have provided thousands of dollars for local veterans who have returned from the battlefields in Afghanistan and Iraq with debilitating injuries.

This year they were able to donate more than $33,000 to two St. Mary’s County veterans.

But as the wars are winding down the group is now looking to the future and for more veterans to help.

“Thank God we’ve run out of wounded warriors,” Harry Pool said, happy that there have been no more apparent casualties from St. Mary’s County.

But the group realizes casualties could still come and their may be more in the county who need help but either don’t know about Hits for Heroes or are worried about coming forward to ask for help.

Also because of medical confidentiality laws the military cannot tell the Hits for Heroes group members which casualties in state side hospitals are from St. Mary’s.

Much of their work has been focused

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on building a network of veterans and residents who hear about the wounded through unofficial channels.

“I tell the boys all the time, find out about them and tell us,” said Debbie Pool.

And they all realize that the next casualty could be someone close to them or even related to them.

“What we do comes from our hearts,” Debbie Pool said. “That’s why we do what we do.”

Hits for Heroes strives to ensure that every dollar they raise will go to veterans and they say they absorb all the expenses for each event from their own funds.

“We have no administrative costs,” said Lorie Burch. “Those dollars are going 100 percent to veterans.”

Hits for Heroes gives the money to the local American Legion to be donated,

so that each dollar is free from taxation as well.

One thing that the committee members have marveled at is the outpouring of support for their fundraisers, which have even taken the form of rummage sales under the Hits for Heroes banner, and have helped to far surpass their monetary goals.

But they attribute that to the giving nature of county residents and the fact that they know their donations help local veterans.

“A lot of this response has been because this kid came from Chaptico or this kid came from Clements,” Lorie Burch said.

“It’s St. Mary’s County taking care of its own,” Harry Pool said. guyleonard@countytimes.net

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Thursday, October 31, 2013

The County Times

s e o r e -H Hits-4 Thanks All Who Helped The Over Forty Softball League would like to thank the following donors, patrons, sponsors and volunteers “who stepped up to the plate” in support of the Hits 4 Heroes Softball fundraiser.

Through your generous donations we were able to raise $33,058.50 and donated $16,529.25 each to local wounded heroes: SPC Jeffery Shonk and SPC DeShawn Kittrell.

Thank you again for your generous donations.

Donors, Patrons, sPonsors & Volunteers

• A Day Off Earth • Affordable Plumbing & Heating • American Legion Post 255 (Ridge) • American Legion Post 26 (Dillsburg, PA) • American Legion Post 54 (Compton) and Post Commander Ernie Bell • Angava Graphics • Applebee's • Asahi Japanese Steakhouse • ASEC • Bert's 50's Diner • Bill Dean • BJ's Wholesale • Boothe's Heating and Air Conditioning • Bozick Distributors • Breck Financial Services • Brent Latham • Burchmart • Busy Corner Buggies • Butch and Stacy MacKeigan • Cathy and Jamie Pulliam • Cecil Creek Logging & Hauling • Chaptico Market • Charlie and Betsy Breck • Chesapeake Trophy • Chief's Bar • Chris and Tobie Pulliam • Companion Care Veterinary Hospital • Cornhole Players and Fans • Cryer's Back Road Inn • Custom On It • Dale Wince • Darryl Burch • Dave Gwynn • Debra Pearce • Dennis and Mary Roderick • Dick's Sporting Goods • DJ COOP (Sam and Cheron Cooper) • DJ's Underground • Don the Bus Driver • Dot and David Nelson • Doug Housa • Dr. Platt's Sterling Optical • Elite Beatz Entertainment • Elpaw Veterninary Hospital • Eric and Sherry Hagen • Evelyn Page • Fiesta Café Mexican Restaurant • Frankie Wood • Greg and Brenda Bauer • Griffin Flooring America • Guy and Guy Masonry • Guy Distributing • H&R Block (Mary Slade) • Harry and Debbie Pool • Hollywood Graphics and Screen Printing • In Memory of Stephen Riley USN (Ret) • International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers • James S. Quinn • Jeff Gray • Jen Lacey • Jim and Angela Arbuthnot • Johnnie Ann Lacey • Kay Jones • Keller Transportation • Kelly Bowles • Kelly Dike • Kickball Teams and Fans • Kristen Boyer • Lacey's Concrete Services • Lance and Julie Pearce • Lance Pearce • Laura Morgan • Ledo's Pizza • Leonardtown Liquors • Liz Kaspar • Lori Jameson • Lorie Burch • Lou and Judy Morgan • Lucas Anderson • Margie Erskin • Mark Bailey/Barserve LLC • Mary Ann Getscher • Mary Kay (Wendy Tippet) • Maryland International Raceway (Ronnie Thompson) • McDonalds • Megan and Katie St. Laurent • Michelle Miranda • Mike Dale • Monterey’s Restaurant • Mr. Tire • Nick’s of Calvert • Outback Steakhouse • Over 40 Softball Team Players and Fans • Papa Johns Pizza • Paul Caddell • Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company, La Plata • Peter and Melissa Charbonnet • PJs Auto Body • Pounding Sand • Raffle and Concession Stand Patrons • Rahmen Robinson • Richard Johnson Hope Improvements • Ruby Tuesday • Salsa’s • Sam Grow Band • Shannon Riley • Softball Teams, Players and Fans • Sons of the Legion Post 255 • Southern Maryland Blue Crabs • Starbucks • State Farm (Nick Rogers) • Steve Ramey • T&T Sweeping & Porto-O-Let Service • Tammy and Tom Karcher • Tequila Grill • The County Times • The Fitzgerald Family • The Green Door • The Hair Company • The Lounge at Bollywood • The Olsen Family • The Printing Press • Thomas and Roberta Shields • Three Mules Welding Supply • Tidewater Dental • Tires Plus • Tony and Cindy Beakes • Tonight’s Alibi • Too Many Mikes • Town Self Storage • Tracey Guy • Trophies by Design • Utz Quality Foods • VFW Post 2632 (California, Md) • Wade Johnson • Wendy Jackson • Wicomico Shores Golf Course • Will Bailey • William W. Winpisinger Center • Willie Watts • Womens Softball League • Yard Sale Donors and Patrons

soFtBall teaMs

7th District Fire Department • American Legion Anderson's Bar • Ball Bashers • Bay Country • Boothe's Heating and Air (Men's Division 2nd Place) • Buddy Lee (Men's Division Champ) Budweiser • Calvert Cares (Co-Ed Division Co-Champion) Griffin's Flooring • Jimmy's Auto • Mahoney • On Site Rental Park Sunoco • Purple Parrots • Ryce Electric (Co-Ed Division Co-Champions) Sterling Optical • Swampy's • Team All Star Team Loco • Team LP3 • Team Paula Cooper Team Pete Cucinotta • The Hobo's • Tri-County • Warlocks

Hits-4-Heroes

CoMMittee MeMBers

Jim Cryer • Darryl Burch • Lorie Burch • Deb Pearce • Dianna Pearce • Debbie Pool • Harry Pool

The County Times

Local detectives with the vice/narcotics division seized numerous documents and large amounts of money from a Charlotte Hall casino over a two-day operation, the unit’s commander reported Monday and he said he anticipated numerous arrests and criminal charges as a result.

Capt. Daniel Alioto said there were no charges yet but expected them to come soon after the conclusion of what he called an operation that spanned several months.

“We anticipate multiple persons being charged,” Alioto told The County Times, adding that detectives seized, along with money, “copious amounts of documents that support our case.”

The next step he said, would be to show their evidence to the State’s Attorney’s Office.

“We absolutely have an outstanding case to present,” Alioto said.

The search and seizure warrant operation at the TPR Casino in Charlotte Hall and its subsequent shuttering means that there are no casinos operating in St. Mary’s County, Alioto said.

The TPR casino operated as a means for the Thoroughbred Placement Resources, Inc. entity based in Upper Marlboro, which was also the subject of a search and seizure warrant, as was the Huntingtown home of George Wells who manages the gaming operations just off Route 5 in Charlotte Hall next to the U.S. Post Office.

Another casino further south in New Market, which purports to operate for the Arden’s Arc Animal Rescue, has also closed down voluntarily, he said due to police investigations.

Wells denied any wrongdoing when he spoke to The County Times Tuesday.

LAW OFFICE OF

10

Police, Federal Agents Seize Money, Records From Charlotte Hall Casino

Cops & Courts

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

Thursday, October 31, 2013

He said as a race horse enthusiast he wanted to help the Upper Marlboro based charity to save many older animals from slaughter; he claims the charity has saved as many as 700 from death.

He said he started the charity down at the Brass Rail sports bar in Great Mills last year and even put $71,000 of his own money into the venture but it failed and closed in March of this year.

He reopened the TPR Casino in Charlotte Hall back in June to recoup his losses and once that was done, he said, start making money for the charity.

He said that since the reopening of the casino the charity has received about $2,500 and that the casino has helped sponsor other charitable causes.

“I’m not making anything,” Wells said in a telephone interview. “I’m still in the hole.”

He said he explained as much to the authorities when they executed their raids Sunday and Monday.

“I have nothing to hide,” Wells said. “What happened the other night got blown out of proportion.”

“We’re being falsely accused for something that is innocent.”

Wells said that lately he has made his living running the casino but also trains race horses and rents out casino equipment.

He showed The County Times copies of the search warrants and lists of items seized from his Huntingtown home and the Charlotte Hall casino.

Listed on the documents, among other items, were envelopes with the names of persons on them and various amounts of cash inside along with documents seized.

Wells said law officers seized about $20,000 in cash from the casino and $5,000 in cash from his home.

The envelopes contained money for people who had volunteered at the casino night as dealers, he said.

He said it was compensation for things like gas money and other expenses the volunteers incurred for their efforts; many volunteer organizations

DANIEL A. M. SLADE, L.L.C. LOKER BUILDING

George Wells looks over copies of search warrants for TPD casino.

provided some kind of compensation for their volunteers’ efforts he said.

“Name a volunteer that doesn’t get compensated,” Wells said. “I compensated them right out of the gross proceeds.

“After that we came up with the net.”

The essence of the law governing gambling for charitable organizations is that all proceeds, minus legitimate expenses, go to the charity, law officers have said.

Alioto declined to discuss the facts of the case but said the investigation is continuing.

“The compensation of employees is one of many issues we’re investigating,” Alioto said. guyleonard@countytimes.net

Fritz Chides Commissioners for Assault Suspect’s Release

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer

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Last week when John Otha Dickens, Jr., jailed twice in as many days for allegedly battering his girlfriend and cutting her 5-year-old daughter and friend in an escalating domestic row, was put back on the streets after being charged with three counts of first-degree assault State’s Attorney Richard Fritz filed a motion in the court to have Dicken’s $5,000 bond revoked.

By Oct. 23 Dickens’ was back in jail for allegedly having violated a court order to not approach his victim again; Fritz said Dickens second release, though on such serious charges, should not have happened.

The first assault by Dickens is alleged to have occurred Oct. 21 but the second and more violent one police said occurred the very next day and resulted in a veteran sheriff’s deputy firing twice at Dickens and striking him in the shoulder.

Fritz said he believed that, according to the initial information he has seen on the aftermath of the shooting, that Cpl. J. Kirkner believed that Dickens had a knife and perhaps even a gun when he and other

deputies confronted the suspect during the assault.

Fritz said under the circumstances it appears that Kirkner acted properly in firing on Dickens.

“At this point in time I believe the shooting was justifiable,” Fritz said of Kirkner’s actions.

Fritz was deeply critical of the District Court Commissioner’s actions upon releasing Dickens for a second time on more serious charges and with a reduced bail.

The commissioner could have erred on the side of caution, Fritz said, kept Dickens in holding for between eight to 10 hours overnight on Oct. 22 to face a judge in a bond hearing the next morning.

“He’s threatening to kill her, why not keep him in jail,” Fritz said. “We’re not talking about a shoplifting case, we’re talking about an egregious violent case.

“This is the worst of the worst and it brings out the flaws in the system.”

Terri Bolling, spokeswoman for the district court commissioners office, said they could not comment on an active case. guyleonard@countytimes.net

11

The County Times

Thursday, October 31, 2013

SHERIFF’S BLOTTER

Cops & COURTS

The following information is compiled directly from publicly released police reports.

On Oct. 22, Deputy David Potter conducted a vehicle stop on Chancellor’s Run Road near Three Notch Road on a vehicle displaying registration plates issued to another vehicle. Deputy Potter’s investigation revealed the driver, Dennis Lajuan Swaringer Sr., 31, of Lexington Park, Md., was in possession of stolen registration plates and was driving on a suspended license. Swaringer was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention Center. He was charged with Driving While Suspended, Operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle, and Theft Under $100.

On Oct. 24, Deputy Schultz responded to the Walmart located in California, Maryland, for a reported theft.

Loss Prevention personnel observed a female select items of merchandise and place them in her purse and pockets. She then attempted to leave the store without paying when she was stopped by Loss Prevention. The female was identified as Cherry Bien Sy, 29, of Mechanicsville, Md. She was charged with Theft Less Than $1,000 by Criminal Citation.

On Oct. 24, Deputy T. Shomper responded to a residence in Lexington Park, Maryland, for an alleged violation of a protective order. The investigation revealed Kevin Desales Wathen, 33, of Leonardtown, Md., had been contacting the victim in violation of an active Protective Order. Wathen was located and placed under

arrest by Deputy Shomper. He was transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention Center and charged with Violation Protective Order.

On Oct. 24, Deputy First Class Knott responded to a residence in Leonardtown, Maryland, for an alleged violation of a protective order. The investigation revealed Jeffrey Keith Price, 35, of Mechanicsville, Md., had been on the victim’s property and had contact with the victim in violation of an active Protective Order. Price was located and placed under arrest by DFC Knott. He was transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention Center and charged with Violation Protective Order.

On Oct. 26, Deputy Teague responded to Cadillac Jack’s Bar on Great Mills Road in Lexington Park, Maryland, for a reported disorderly subject. A patrol of the bar had been asked to leave by management and was refusing to do so. Donte Antoinne Moss, 33, of no fixed address, was located inside the bar by Deputy Teague. Moss became increasingly enrage when asked to leave the bar by Deputy Teague causing more of a disturbance. Moss refused all orders by Deputy Teague to leave and was placed under arrest. He was transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention Center and charged with Trespass Private Property, Disorderly Conduct, Failure to Obey a Lawful Order.

On Oct. 27, Deputy Lance responded to a residence in the area of Tall Timbers, Maryland for an alleged assault. The victim alleged suspect Ryan Christopher Conyers, 32, of Tall Timbers, Md., assaulted the victim during an argument over possession of a phone. Deputy Lance observed fresh evidence of injury on the victim.

Conyers was located and placed under arrest. He was transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention Center and charged with 2nd Degree Assault.

On Oct. 27, deputies responded to a residence in the area of Iverson Drive in Great Mills after a victim reported finding someone inside his vehicle. Prior to police arrival, the victim confronted the two male subjects sitting inside of his vehicle. The subjects fled and the victim gave chase but was unable to catch them. The subjects also fled from police on their arrival to the scene and were unable to be located. A few hours later, another victim described finding the same two subjects inside of his vehicle in the area of Thoroughbred Drive. This victim also confronted the subjects who fled on foot. This time, responding deputies located and apprehended suspect Drew Thomas Aloise, 20, of Lexington Park, Md. in the area. Aloise was in possession of property stolen from the various vehicles. He was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention Center by Deputy Potter. Aloise was charged with Rouge and Vagabond (2) COUNTS and Theft Under $1,000.

Investigation on 2012 Infant Death Concluded

On March 8, 2012 at approximately 5:45 p.m. a telephone call was placed to the Calvert Control Center about a deceased newborn infant found in a trash bag within the trunk of a vehicle located at 5442 Hallowing Point Road, Prince Frederick, Calvert County Md. The investigation revealed that the infant was that of Melissa Schrae Bowen of 5442 Hallowing Point Road, Prince Frederick, Md. and was born between Melissa Schrae Bowen October 2011 and January 2012. The case was assigned to Det. Michael Mudd of the Calvert Investigative Team and remained open pending further investigation and Autopsy results.

On Nov. 16, 2012, officers of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office located a deceased newborn infant in a suitcase in the attic of a residence located in La Plata, Charles County, Md. Investigation revealed that the infant died in Huntingtown, Calvert County Md. and subsequently transported by Bowen to the residence in La Plata, Md. It is believed that the birth occurred between January 2007 and December 2007. The case was assigned to Detective Mike Mudd of the Calvert Investigative Team and remained open pending further investigation and Autopsy results.

Upon conclusion of the investigation, a Calvert County Grand Jury, issued an indictment for one count of 2nd degree murder and two counts of manslaughter on Melissa Schrae Bowen.

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The County Times

Thursday, October 31, 2013

12

Business News

Spring Valley Apartments Hosts Social Services, Others Onsite to Assist Residents

By Kay Poiro Staff Writer

cies were on-hand to assess specific social, medical and financial requirements of Spring Valley residents.

On Oct. 24, Spring Valley ApartThe western-themed round up, the ments hosted its first “Resident Round- first of its kind for Spring Valley, was up” where several community organi- the idea of apartment complex manzations provided residents the opportu- ager Shelia Mackall and her staff. After nity to interact face-to-face and inquire hearing their vision, Dennis Nicholson about services. St. Mary’s County Social of the Housing Authority of St. Mary’s Services, Judy Center and other agen- County then put them in touch with the Department of Social Services.

“From there, it just started rolling,” Mackall says.

For months, Spring Valley had been informally assessing the needs of their residents.

They – found that, although many had specific needs or requests for information, they weren’t being addressed. By bringing the agencies to the property, apartment management was Representatives from Social Services participating in the Resident Roundup – Amanda Wendt, left, Kerry Miciotto, Rewa Powell-Mack and Janelle Jones.

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able to provide the access many were lacking.

“Many of our residents don’t have transportation to get to Social Services, for example,” explains Spring Valley apartments assistant manager Mandy Buck. “So bringing Social Services to them makes sense.”

Residents completed a survey during the roundup event and a count of the answers showed a strong desire for child-centered activities. The response has also been positive for those willing to help run the activities.

“We have about five parents who have already volunteered to start an afterschool program for kids in our complex. One of whom is a retired teacher,” Mackall says.

Spring Valley Apartments are currently undergoing extensive on-site renovations. Upgrades include a complete exterior renovation with updated HVAC systems and replacing existing appliances with more energy efficient models. The renovations, which began

in August, are slated to continue well into 2014.

Renovations aren’t just limited to the external façade, Buck points out.

“Since 2010, management has been working hard to change the reputation of Spring Valley and to foster a sense of community.”

That sense of community is one reason Social Services lent their support.

“Maintaining and strengthening positive relationships with this kind of outreach is important,” notes Kerry Miciotto of the St. Mary’s County Department of Social Services.

Judging by the success of this year’s program, manager Shelia Mackall says the resident they plan to continue the roundup, hopefully with the addition of more agencies, vendors or in collaboration with neighboring apartments.

Spring Valley Apartments is located at 46533 Valley Ct. in Lexington Park, Md. kaypoiro@countytimes.net

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13

The County Times

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Business Profile

Laurel Grove Station All-American Grill

Keeping it Fresh, Making it Local

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Located 1 Mile North of CMH Photo by Kay Poiro

By Kay Poiro Staff Writer Reopening the Laurel Grove Station in mid-September as the Laurel Grove Station All-American Grill, Mechanicsville, Md. native Cody Sir had a plan to keep it fresh and make it local. He accomplishes this by going out of his way to use local produce and beef, as well as other homegrown products and services.

“If you order a burger, I can tell you when that cow was killed,” Cody says.

Most of what passes through Laurel Grove Station’s kitchen is from local farmers and local distributors. Hole in the Woods Farm in Chaptico provides their beef and pork. Dairy and eggs are courtesy of the Alvey family, owners of WRA Distributors out of Mechanicsville. Fruits and vegetables are bought from various local farms and Amish produce stands. Even the seasonings featured in many dishes are from Hollywood, Md. via Trevor Bothwell, creator of T-Rev’s Original seasonings.

Cody states that using local distributors hasn’t affected his prices much at all. “The most expensive thing on our menu is $11.”

Cody also notes that any extra costs incurred are outweighed by the convenience of working close to home.

“For my small business, it’s more efficient to resupply from right here in St. Mary’s,” he says. “If I run out of milk, I can call up Ms. Loretta at WRA and let her know. Within an hour, I’ve got what I need. A national distributor might not have trucks in our area for another week or so.”

While many restaurants join the fresh food movement for a variety of reasons, Cody Sir’s are far more personal. At two months old, his infant son underwent open heart surgery.

After that life-changing experience, Cody reexamined his own health and eating habits, ultimately altering them to include more fresh and seasonal fare.

Despite the emphasis on fresh and local, patrons can still find fun on the menu.

One of the most popular items is the chocolate Guinness whiskey cake with a caramel butter cream frosting. Created by one of his family members, it quickly became one of their best sellers.

“People follow us on Facebook just to see when the cake is coming back,” he jokes.

The restaurant’s recently instituted Sunday morning breakfast also includes favorites like pancakes and waffles, as well as gut-busting staples like creamed chipped beef, steak egg and cheese sandwiches.

Cody is grateful for the support he’s received from the local community, as well as fellow small business owners in the area. After a little over a month in business, he and his small staff are proud they’re been able to support the community that continues to support them.

“About 97 percent of what we serve is locally grown or locally made. Except for our ranch dressing,” he says with a smile. “We go all the way to Hidden Valley for that.”

Laurel Grove Station All-American Grill is located at 26945 Three Notch Road, Mechanicsville, Md. Days of operation are Tuesday-Saturday, closed on Monday. kaypoiro@countytimes.net

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The County Times

Letters to the

Thursday, October 31, 2013

14

EDITOR

NARFE Fundraiser - Alzheimer’s and Hospice

St. Mary’s Chapter 969 of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) wants to thank all of the businesses in our area that so graciously participated in our Alzheimer’s/ Hospice of St. Mary’s fundraiser in September by allowing our volunteers to collect donations at their storefronts. Their support and assistance was a major factor in our success: California: Walmart and Giant Food Store Lexington Park: McKay’s Food & Drug and Plaza Azteca Leonardtown: McKay’s Food & Drug and True Value

Charlotte Hall: McKay’s Food & Drug, Aprils Pool & Spa, True Value, and Farmers Market & Auction Hollywood: McKay’s Food Store Ridge: Ridge Market The kind and generous people contributing at these establishments in St. Mary’s County donated over $6800.

The St. Mary’s Chapter 969 of NARFE wants to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to all of you that contributed. NARFE will donate 100% of the money collected to the Alzheimer’s Association and the Hospice of St.

Mary’s, two extremely important causes. Special thanks also go to our many volunteers who gave their time and dedication to collect for these very worthwhile organizations. If you are an active or retired federal employee and would like more information on our organization, please contact Judy Loflin at 301-872-0064 or the NARFE Service Center at 301-757-4121.

Joseph Luskus, President, St. Mary’s Chapter 969, NARFE Charlotte Hall, Md.

Be Scary, But Be Safe Too: Motorists, Parents And Trick-Or-Treaters Should Follow Basic Safety Tips Halloween can be scary. There are plenty of super heroes walking around, sure, but they’re up against ghosts, ghouls, zombies and vampires. It’s hard to tell what those unpredictable creatures might do next, so it’s important that motorists, parents and youngsters all follow some safety precautions.

“Halloween should be a magical night where kids can think about costumes and candy and be anything they want to be,” said Allstate spokesman, Adam Polak. “But the most important thing for them to be, is safe, and safety comes from awareness. By following a few basic safety tips everyone – motorists, parents, and kids alike – can do their part to make the holiday a memorable occasion for all the right reasons.”

Impaired driving is a particular concern around the Halloween holiday. On Halloween nights from 2007 to 2011, 52 percent of the nation’s fatalities came as a result of drunk driving-rated crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Safety Council offer a variety of tips for motorists, parents and kids to make sure that only the costumes are scary on Halloween.

Motorists should: • Designate a sober driver or, if impaired, take a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation to get home safely; • Be especially alert and cautious when driving on Halloween because of the high number of pedestrians walking the streets; • Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs and darting out from parked cars; • Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully; • At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing; • Avoid using cell phones while driving; • Avoid driving if inexperienced. Halloween, with all its distractions, can be a challenge for teen drivers with limited time behind the wheel.

Parents should: • Review all appropriate pedestrian and traffic safety rules with children; • Make sure all costumes, wigs and accessories are fire-resistant; • Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to make sure they are visible if children are going to be out after dusk; • Make certain that if masks are worn, they should have large eye holes and nose and mouth openings, and parents should encourage children to remove their masks before crossing the street; • Provide well-fitting costumes and shoes to avoid trips and falls; • Make certain that knives, swords and other accessories are made from cardboard or flexible materials, and that children are not carrying sharp objects.

Finally, children who are trick-or-treating should: • Travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and avoid trickor-treating alone; • Carry flashlights with fresh batteries to help them see and for others to see them; • Look both ways before crossing the street and use established crosswalks whenever possible; • Walk on sidewalks and not in the street. If there are no sidewalks, walk on the far edge of the road facing traffic.

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer, serving approximately 16 million households through its Allstate, Encompass, Esurance and Answer Financial brand names and Allstate Financial business segment. Allstate branded insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services are offered through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives, as well as via www.allstate.com, www.allstate.com/financial and 1-800 Allstate®, and are widely known through the slogan “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®.” As part of Allstate’s commitment to strengthen local communities, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate employees, agency owners and the corporation provided $29 million in 2012 to thousands of nonprofit organizations and important causes across the United States.

James Manning McKay - Founder

Guy Leonard - Reporter - Education, Crime...............guyleonard@countytimes.net

Contributing Writers: Joyce Baki Eric Franklin Ron Guy Laura Joyce Debra Meszaros Shelby Oppermann Linda Reno Terri Schlichenmeyer

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P.O. Box 250 Hollywood, Maryland 20636 News, Advertising, Circulation, Classifieds: 301-373-4125

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Tobie Pulliam - Office Manager..............................tobiepulliam@countytimes.net Sarah Miller- Reporter - Community..............................sarahmiller @countytimes.net Kay Poiro - Reporter - Business, Entertainment...............guyleonard@countytimes.net

15

The County Times

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The County Times

Education

Board of Education Expresses Continued Support of iPad Rollout

By Kay Poiro Staff Reporter

At their monthly meeting on Oct. 29, the Board of Education expressed its continued support for the STEM for All program in St. Mary’s County Public Schools. The program is funded by a $2.5 million grant awarded last year from the Department of Defense.

During an Instructional Technology Update, STEM Coordinator Jennifer Consalvo spoke about the progress of the program. To date, over 2,000 iPads have been distributed among St. Mary’s county public schools for use by students in grades 3-8. With the Board of Education’s operating budget supplementing the grant, St. Mary’s County Public Schools are closer to the goal of 1:1 computing in the classroom.

Consalvo also said curriculum development that incorporates the use of technology is ongoing.

St. Mary’s County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael J. Martirano praised the program’s commitment to professional development for teachers, as well as its smooth implementation. kaypoiro@countytimes.net

Thursday, October 31, 2013

16

Ryken Senior Signs To Naval Academy

The first quarter of the school year is just coming to a close, but St. Mary’s Ryken (SMR) senior Dakota Allen (seated, second from left), already has his plans set for next year.

Allen, of Leonardtown, Md., will attend the United States Naval Academy after graduation. Surrounded by his family and members of the St. Mary’s Ryken administration, he recently signed his Certificate Standing (from left) Chester Allen (grandfather); Matthew Allen (father); Barbara Allen (mother); of Acceptance.

Blanche Allen (grandmother); and SMR Dean of Academics Barbara Ives. Seated (from left): SMR Allen is a mem- President Mary Joy Hurlburt; Dakota Allen; Col. Mike Thumm (USMC ret.), U.S. Naval Academy ber of the Theodore Information Officer; and SMR Principal Rick Wood.

Ryken Chapter of the National Honor Society and one of the SMR Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools Stewards, a group who keeps the spirit and traditions of the Xaverian Brothers alive by spreading excitement about faith, service and the school’s Catholic identity.

St. Mary’s Ryken is one of 13 Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools in the United States. The years a student spends at a Xaverian school are marked not only by college preparatory, challenging academics, but also by rewarding opportunities for service, the forming of lifelong friendships, the camaraderie of athletics and shared celebrations of faith. To prepare students to take their place in a world that is increasingly global and continually changing, St. Mary’s Ryken has developed several, unique learning programs: X-PAX; SMR STEM 100; and the 1:1 iPad program. To learn more, please visit www.smrhs.org.

Two Seniors Named National Merit Scholars

St. Mary’s Ryken High School is proud to announce that two students have achieved Commended Student status in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Seniors Emily Grace of Great Mills., Md., and Clare Tennant of Hollywood, Md., earned Commended status, which means they are among the top 3% of more than 1.5 million high school students who entered the competition by taking the PSAT (Preliminary SAT)/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Earlier this year, Emily Grace took first place in the St. Mary’s County Fair High School Speech Contest and was named second runner up in the Queen of Tolerance competition. She is a member of the SMR choir and regularly performs in the spring musical.

This past summer, she was a winner in the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America essay contest and received full tuition to the organization’s Washington Workshops Congressional Seminar in June.

Clare Tennant is a flautist with the SMR concert band and has received numerous accolades in music

competitions including a score of one (1) - the highest score one can receive - from the Maryland Music Educators Association as a soloist. In addition to flute, she plays piccolo and, for the past two years, has been chosen to perform with the Washington Archdiocese Music Teachers Council Honor Band.

Both Clare and Emily are members of the Theodore Ryken Chapter of the National Honor Society and the SMR chapter of the Tri-M Music Honors Society.

St. Mary’s Ryken is one of 13 Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools in the United States. The years a stu-dent spends at a Xaverian school are marked not only by college preparatory, challenging academics, but also by rewarding opportunities for service, the forming of lifelong friendships, the camaraderie of athlet-ics and shared celebrations of faith. To prepare students to take their place in a world that is increasingly global and continually changing, St. Mary’s Ryken has developed several, unique learning programs: X-PAX; SMR STEM 100; and the 1:1 iPad Seniors Emily Grace (left) and Clair Tennant (right) earned the honor of being named program. To learn more, please visit www.smrhs.org. National Merit Commended students.

Washington Post Columnist and Author Neil Irwin Delivers St. Mary’s College’s Bradlee Lecture, Nov. 7

Neil Irwin, Washington Post columnist and author, will deliver St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s annual Benjamin Bradlee Distinguished Lecture in Journalism on Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Auerbach Auditorium of St. Mary’s Hall (18952 E. Fisher Road St. Mary’s City, MD 20686). This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Arminta Stanfield at ajstanfield@smcm.edu or (240) 895-3073.

Neil Irwin has recently garnered much acclaim as the author of “The Alchemists: Three Central Bankers and a World on Fire,” a New York Times bestselling book about the efforts of the world’s central banks to combat the financial crisis and its aftermath. The Alchemists is on the short-list for the Financial Times-Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Award.

Irwin is also the economics editor of Wonkblog, The

Washington Post’s site for policy news and analysis. Each weekday morning his Econ Agenda column reports and explains the latest trends in economics, finance, and the policies that shape both. He has been a reporter for the Post since 2000, and frequently appears on television to analyze economic and financial topics.

Irwin was a Knight-Bagehot Fellow in Economic and Business Journalism at Columbia University, where he earned an MBA. He earned his B.A. at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

The Bradlee Lecture features individuals who have made great contributions to journalism with a focus on democracy.

The lecture is endowed by Benjamin Bradlee, executive editor of The Washington Post from 1968 to 1991, who oversaw the publication of stories documenting the Watergate scandal.

Bradlee served on the St. Mary’s College of Maryland Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2013.

The Bradlee Lecture has brought eminent journalists to the St. Mary’s College campus, including Tom Brokaw, Bob Woodward, Tony Kornheiser, and Ben Bradlee himself. The lecture is sponsored by the Center for the Study of Democracy, a joint initiative of St. Mary’s College of Maryland and Historic St. Mary’s City.

St. Mary’s College of Maryland, designated the Maryland state honors college in 1992, is ranked one of the best public liberal arts schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. More than 2,000 students attend the college, nestled on the St. Mary’s River in Southern Maryland.

17

Thursday, October 31, 2013

The County Times

Education

Mother Catherine Spalding School Reaches for the Future

By Kay Poiro Staff Writer “Rejoice in the past, reach for the future.”

More than just a school motto, it has become the rallying cry of a school fighting for its existence. Mother Catherine Spalding School, one of the oldest parochial schools in St. Mary’s County, has faced dwindling enrollment and recent administration changes.

This year, on the eve of their 50th anniversary, they are determined to carry on.

The 2014-2015 school year marks the 50 anniversary Mother Catherine Spalding School. Although past enrollment has topped 200, current enrollment is 122 students. Recently appointed Principal Linda Miedzinski says that Mother Catherine Spalding School would need around 195 students to be considered fully operable and to place the school back in a financial comfort zone.

Aiming for that comfort zone, Principal Miedzinski and her advisors have aggressively sought corporate sponsors, as well as contacted their burgeoning alumni association for support. She has also made improvements in the classroom, as well.

Since becoming Principal in July, she’s overseen the overhaul of their music curriculum to include a middle school chorus, as well as a piano and forthcoming guitar lab.

Although an upgrade to the school’s already robust technology lab is also on the horizon, Principal Miedzinski remains cautious about spending.

“Our focus is on re-discovering and implementing what we already have in place versus spending a lot of money,” she says.

Traditional school fundraising events are still scheduled. This Sunday Nov. 3rd is the Mother Catherine Spalding School annual th

Christmas bazaar and Dec. 1st is their everpopular Coach purse bingo.

The school has two short-term goals, Principal Miedzinski says. “The first is to increase enrollment and the second is to make Mother Catherine Spalding more accessible to the community.”

The second goal appears attainable, as Principal Miedzinski explains the overwhelming support for their cause. “We have received an outpouring of support from the community,” she says. “A nearby parish even bussed in their faculty for our last bingo. Word of mouth is very powerful.

The importance of saving Mother Catherine Spalding School has galvanized even the youngest students into action. One 2nd grader began crafting rubber bracelets of the school colors and selling them for $2 a piece. The movement quickly caught on and today, many students and faculty now wear the blue and white bracelets.

“One student raised $55 from selling bracelets. Another raised $75,” the principal says. “And they’re doing this without anyone asking them to. That shows the passion they have for Mother Catherine Spalding.”

Principal Miedzinski remembers the day she received her own blue and white bracelet.

Photos by Linda Miedzinski Emily Farrell, a second grader who started making school color bracelets as a fundraiser on her own.

The 2nd grader gave her the bracelet, gave her a hug and and then told her, “Ms. Miedzinski, everything’s gonna be all right.”

Mother Catherine Spalding School is a private Catholic school, grades pre-K through 8. kaypoiro@countytimes.net

FLOW Mentoring Continues Making a Difference in St. Mary’s County Schools

By Kay Poiro Staff Writer Every week, over 120 St. Mary’s County volunteer mentors spend at least an hour after school with students from grades 4 through 12. They are Future Leaders of the World (FLOW) mentors. Mentors and mentees meet in a common area of the school and, together with their site leader, interact and bond over activities.

Some sites sponsor food drives while others may build greenhouses or work on art projects, depending on the strength of the mentors and the interests of the children.

Although fifteen minutes are set-aside at the beginning of each session for homework, FLOW Mentoring IRT Sarah Tyson emphasizes that, “FLOW isn’t a tutoring program.”

Rather, FLOW mentoring focuses on developing the whole child through regular interaction with a dedicated, attentive

and responsible adult.

Tyson, a former Great Mills High School art teacher, strongly believes in the power of mentoring.

“As a classroom teacher, I found that when I connected with kids, they felt valued. And when they felt valued, they performed better.”

Tyson has managed FLOW mentoring from its start six years ago. She explains that Mark Smith, Coordinator for Special Programs for St. Mary’s County Public Schools asked the question “How can we better serve our students?” Soon after, the concept of a dedicated mentoring program was established.

St. Mary’s County Public Schools then applied for federal funds to supplement support for the program. Initial funding came from the Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools. Success was evident almost immediately.

“Being grant funded, we were in the habit of tracking our kids- their disciplinary referrals, their grades. And there was definite progress,” notes Sarah Tyson.

Four years ago, the program applied for and received additional funding through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The program received $231,000 over three years to expand and enhance their middle and high school programs. Although 2012 was the last year for those funds, FLOW mentoring seems here to stay.

“We are now funded through the St. Mary’s County Public Schools as well as the local management board and local non-profits.” Tyson goes on to say that, “the school system has seen the powerful and positive effects of mentoring on our kids and they’ve really embraced us.” She adds that the St. Mary’s County Board of Education has been extremely supportive, often visiting sites and talking with kids and mentors.

Although there are no education requirements to become a mentor, rigorous background screenings are conducted. Traditionally, FLOW mentoring has attracted an eclectic group including empty nesters, retirees and active duty military.

Photos by Kay Poiro

One such mentor, active duty sailor Tanya Ciccarelli, has been with her mentee Erica at George Washington Carver Elementary School for three years.

“The most rewarding thing has been seeing her progress through the years,” she says. “She’s gotten better at reading and she’s a lot more focused on school.”

Ciccarelli also noted that mentorship means more than a couple of hours after school on Monday. “I also try to have lunch with her during the week just so she knows it’s not just a Monday thing.”

Mentoring begin in October of each school year and last through May. The application process for mentors is rolling from August to January. More information about the program can be found at www.smcps.org/mentor. kaypoiro@countytimes.net

Newsmaker

The County Times

Thursday, October 31, 2013

18

Energy Challenge

SMECO Awards Prizes to Energy Challenge Winners Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) recently awarded prizes to the winning participants of the Energy Savings Challenge held earlier this year. The first place winner, Richard Dyson of La Plata, won a $1,000 gift certificate donated by Sears for use toward the purchase of any ENERGY STAR-certified Kenmore appliances. Two second-place prize winners received energy efficiency kits which were valued at $200 and donated by AM Conservation Group. Eight customers won third-place prizes, energy efficiency kits valued at $45, donated by Niagara Conser-

Front row (from left): Michelle Downs, Venus Ann Lanham, Leanne Hicks, Marian Trossbach, and Jay Robinson.

Back row (from left): SMECO Corporate Communications Director Terry Ressler, APT Field Representative James Butler, Diane Zrimsek, Richard Dyson, Cal Spreitzer, and Sears Store Manager Dave Weavill.

vation. The kits contained electric- and water-conservation products, such as weather stripping, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), switch and outlet sealers, low-flow shower heads, faucet aerators, and more.

More than 200 customers enrolled in the Energy Savings Challenge using their Facebook accounts. The challenge compared customers’ energy use in April, May, and June of 2013 to their energy use during the same months in 2012. SMECO customer-members were challenged to use at least three percent less energy than they had used the previous year. The top 80 challenge participants cut their energy use by more than 50,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh), collectively saving The Cove/D.F.Z.: a safe, fun & sober place to be for youth ages 12-17 more than $6,700.

SMECO customers are with concerns related to drugs or alcohol. Free activities & peer support for able to review their monthguests located at 44871 St. Andrew’s Church Rd. in California. ly energy use by clicking the Home Energy Reports Every Thursday: SMART Recovery (HER) link on the coopmeetings for Family & Friends, 7 p.m. erative’s website. The HER web portal helps customers understand their energyStarting Monday 11/4 at 6 p.m.: Emotions Anonymous use patterns, find out what uses the most energy in their homes, and learn how Beacon of Hope: a free center offering social & learning options and their energy use compares peer support for adults in a fun & clean, sober atmosphere. Open Fridays, to homes that are similarly Saturdays & Sundays at 21800 N. Shangri La, Millison Plaza, Lexington Park. sized, close in proximity, and have the same type of heating system. Customers can also set energy-saving

goals and create a plan to achieve those goals using the HER web portal.

Winners of the Energy Savings Challenge received their prizes at the Sears store in the St. Charles Towne Center. Richard Dyson won the top prize by reducing his energy use by 54.1 percent; from April through June 2013, he used 1,810 kWh less energy than he had during the same period the previous year. Diane Zrimsek of Lexington Park came in second place by reducing her energy use by 1,349 kWh, a 53.2 percent difference. According to Zrimsek, “Last fall I renovated my downstairs and in the process I replaced my HVAC system. It was 20 years old. Just doing that saved a lot of energy. Also when the Energy Challenge started I bumped up the programmable thermostat that I received through the CoolSentry program a few degrees, and just dealt with it being a little warmer throughout the summer. I got my electricity bill down to $50-$60 all summer.”

Other winners included Marian Trossbach of Saint Inigoes, Leanne Hicks of Lexington Park, Kathleen Morlan of Lusby, Jay Robinson of Huntingtown, Michelle Downs of California, Venus Ann Lanham of Mechanicsville, Madelyn Mergner of Mechanicsville, and Greg Crewse of Leonardtown. Cal Spreitzer of Lexington Park, another winner, explained how he saved energy during the challenge, “First we changed our water heater, and we got an energy efficient water heater. We also did the insulation on the pipes, both the hot and cold water pipes coming off of the water heater. We looked throughout the house and improved our insulation. Also we put CFLs throughout the house, replacing all our old bulbs with efficient CFLs.” He saved nearly 1,400 kWh during the three-month period.

Jeff Shaw, SMECO’s environmental programs and energy conservation director, reinforced the co-op’s message: “We encourage customers to save energy if they want to save money. Customers can also save money on appliances by purchasing certified ENERGY STAR products and receiving rebates through the EmPOWER Maryland program.” SMECO plans to sponsor another energy savings challenge beginning November 1, 2013. The Hometown Spirit Energy Savings Challenge will feature a team competition between counties. A $200 Visa gift card will be awarded to the individual team member who reduces their energy use by the greatest percentage based on their usage during the same period the year before. Customers must have a Facebook account to participate in the challenge. Details about the competition are available on the Hometown Spirit Energy Savings Challenge website.

SMECO is a customer-owned electric cooperative providing electricity to more than 154,000 services in Charles County, St. Mary’s County, southern Prince George’s County, and all but the northeast portion of Calvert County. Coops are distinctly different from investor-owned utilities because co-ops are owned by their customers, and customermembers elect the men and women who serve on the Board of Directors.

Co-ops also issue capital credits to their customermembers. What are capital credits? They are the member’s share of the co-op’s margins, based on how much electricity the member purchased and the rate at which the account was billed. SMECO’s margins—revenue less expenses—are used as working capital for new construction and system improvements. When SMECO’s Board of Directors determines that a percentage of the capital credits can be distributed to members through a general refund, capital credits will be issued by check or credited to members’ electric bills.

19

The County Times

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Navy

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By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Now that the U.S. Navy has decided to cut funding to the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum to pay for its utilities, the museum’s governing association may plan to start charging admission to certain groups to compensate for their loss, according to a letter to the Board of County Commissioners penned by the group’s leader.

“While it is disappointing that they have terminated our relationship as a formal navy museum, this decision will provide us with new opportunities that were not possible before this decision was made,” wrote Arvid Forsman, president of the museum’s board of directors. “We now have the flexibility to charge fees for the use of our museum for meetings

and conferences, which we were not allowed to do previously according to navy rules.”

Charging groups for conferences and parties may not be the end of it, either, the letter seemed to indicate.

“We will also be able to charge a small admission fee to visit the museum should it be necessary in the future,” Forsman wrote.

The utility bill amounts to about $3,400 the museum association must now pay on its own, according to the association’s own figures.

In his letter, Forsman said this amounts to about $40,000 per year or 20 percent of the association’s annual expenditures.

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The County Times

Thursday, October 31, 2013

20

Feature Story

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Just off Airport View Drive in Hollywood a group of high-technology trained specialists have created a space where their kind and anybody else who wants to learn about technology or just the art of making things on their own can expand their horizons.

Bay 13 of the industrial park where PaxSpace now resides is divided by a shower curtain-like partition that separates wood working and metal shaping equipment and tools from where the advanced electronics tools are stored and behind both is a walled-off room for classroom instruction.

Three of the group’s founding members, Jim Shelton, Paul DiBiase and Nick Clark, all met while working at Patuxent River Naval Air Station on flight simulations and with others hatched a plan to make PaxSpace a reality.

They all loved to indulge in technical or handson hobbies, DiBiase said, but when it came to learning new things they found they had to pool their resources.

The plan to start PaxSpace started each morning at work with 10-minute discussions over coffee on just how they would make it happen.

“We have lots of things we like to do but we don’t have all the space or the equipment to do it,” DiBiase, an aerospace engineer, said.

But at the new workshop they can engage in all kinds of things from software development and electronics fabrication to carpentry and sheet metal work.

They even plan on bringing in people who can bring in a myriad of other skills to teach and enrich members’ knowledge base.

The whole purpose is to create a community for makers of all kinds.

BCF Solutions, a technology contractor, provided the space and a partnership with The Patuxent Partnership helps funnel donations to the fledling group.

Shelton, a computer engineer who worked on V-22 Osprey flight tests for a decade, said he could remember a time when people did without buying new things

A Place For Thinkers, Shapers and Makers Photos by Frank Marquart

if something they owned broke; they found a way to fix it themselves.

“We want to get back to the 1950s, back then everybody made or fixed what they needed,” Shelton said.

“We’ve become a disposable society.”

Clark, a computer scientist, said that started with showing people how to enjoy learning new skills.

“We want to bring people back in and begin to love making things,” Clark said.

Another track in training people in technical and likely marketable skills is to give them the means to change or enhance careers and build new opportunities.

“We hope to be able to bring people in to become entrepreneurs,” Shelton said.

The shop has only been open about two months and already they have 26 members, becoming a part of PaxSpace costs $50 a month but they offer family rates and options for one-at-a-time visits.

Shelton said the paid membership was not just an investment in a place to pursue a hobby.

“It’s a good value for entertainment money but it’s also an investment in knowledge and skills,” Shelton said.

The response was strong, Clark said and founding

members have had to put a lot of extra hours into furnishing the space to keep up.

“It’s been a very fast ride, Clark said.

The founders have applied for their non-profit status, established a Website and even taken out an insurance policy to protect against accidents and liability.

They say they’re serious about making PaxSpace work, though setting it up as been an exercise in effort they didn’t expect at first.

“We’re just trying to form a community of makers,” DiBiase said.

Despite the high-technology experience many of the current members have, others with skills or even no skills should not feel like they will be left out, they said.

It was for those who had the desire to learn but lacked technical skills that PaxSpace was dedicated.

Introductory classes they plan can teach all kinds of things like even how to silver solder a circuit board.

It’s the novitiates they’re after.

“That’s exactly the kind of people we want,” DiBiase said. guyleonard@countytimes.net

21

The County Times

Thursday, October 31, 2013

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The County Times

Thursday, October 31, 2013

22

St. Mary’s Department of Aging

Programs and Activities

SENIOR LIVING Flu Shot Clinic at the Loffler Senior Activity Center Thursday, Nov. 7 Just in case you haven’t had a chance to get your flu shot, it’s not too late. Rite-Aid will be providing flu shots at the Loffler Senior Activity Center on Thursday, Nov. 7; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Bring your Medicare card. If you do not have a Medicare card, the cost is $29.99. Walk-ins are welcome, but it is helpful to let the Rite-Aid staff know an approximate number of participants so please call 301-737-5670, ext. 1658 by Nov. 6 if you plan to come or for any questions.

Holiday Stress Reduction On Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 10:45 a.m., the “Senior Matters” discussion group meets at the Northern Senior Activity Center and will discuss how to reduce and cope with stress during the holidays. Structured like a small study or focus group, participants explore issues and concerns related to aging in a small group setting which is facilitated

by Elizabeth Holdsworth (LCSW-C). The group meets the first and third Tuesdays at 10:45 a.m. Walk-ins are welcome. Please contact the Center at 301-475-4002, ext. 1001 for more information.

Loffler Senior Activity Center Offers Beaded Jewelry Workshops Are you gearing up for the holidays? Hand-made items, especially jewelry, are immensely popular for giftgiving these days. So we are offering an opportunity to make four beautiful pieces over the course of four weeks.

The sessions take place at the Loffler Senior Activity Center on the following Wednesdays from 1:30-3 p.m.: Oct. 30 - stretch bracelet; Nov. 6- clasp bracelet; Nov. 13-earrings; Nov. 20 - necklace. Classes are taught by Sue Peters and full payment can be made directly to her on the first day of class. Cost is $20 for all four sessions and includes instruction plus all materials needed. (Classes will not be prorated if you cannot attend all sessions.) Class size is limited and registration is required. Call 301-737-5670, ext. 1658 by Tuesday, Oct. 29 to register or for any questions.

Halloween Party at the Loffler Senior Activity Center The witches of Loffler are stirring things up in preparation for a party in the Loffler Dungeon. Learn some spooky line dances, flaunt your costume, drink some witches brew and nibble on bone chips. Or just relax and watch the action (though a spell may be cast on you). The festivities start at 12:30 p.m. (after lunch is over--only snacks will be served) on Thursday, Oct. 31. Cost is $5, payable at the door but reservations and a sense of humor are required so call 301-737-5670, ext. 1658 by Tuesday, Oct. 29 to RSVP. Reflexology A presentation by Christine McDougal will be held at the Garvey Senior Activity Center on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 10:00 a.m. on the benefits of the alternative medicine technique; reflexology. Reflexology is the application of appropriate pressure to specific points and areas on the feet, hands, or ears. Reflexologists believe that these areas and reflex points correspond to different body organs and systems, and that pressing them has a beneficial effect on the organs and person’s general health. Christine will do a short presentation and then offer free ear or feet demonstrations. Reservations required. Call 301-475-4200, ext.1050 to register.

Veterans Circle Celebration to be held Friday, Nov. 8 Every year the staff at the Loffler Senior Activity Center welcomes our local veterans with a breakfast and a simple ceremony designed to honor those who have served and continue to serve our country through military service.

This year’s Veteran’s Circle Celebration will take place on Friday, Nov. 8 at the Loffler Senior Activity Center. A staff-prepared breakfast will begin at 10 a.m. with the ceremony following at 10:30 a.m. Cost is $4 for civilians and is FREE for veterans (including active duty members.) To sign up call 301-737-5670, ext. 1658 or stop by the reception desk before Friday, Nov. 1. Indicate if you are a veteran when you sign up.

Honoring our Veterans On Friday, Nov. 8, at 12:30 p.m., listen to patriotic music and reminisce personal stories by the warmth of the fireside in the social room at the Northern Senior Activity Center. A special tribute will be on display of mementos and historical information on veterans that have made invaluable contributions serving our country. If you are a veteran, family member or friend and want to attend or have personal mementos that we can display, please call 301-475-4002, ext. 1003 to be included. Your valuables will be locked up for safe keeping in the display case. Anyone interested in having lunch beforehand should call 301-475-4002, ext.

1001 by noon, Thursday, Nov. 7. The cost for lunch is by donation for seniors 60 and older; $6 for individuals under 60.

Fall Wreath Making Make a beautiful wreath for your door using simple coffee filters and a straw wreath at the Garvey Senior Activity Center on Friday, Nov. 15 at 10:00 a.m. Who could believe it could be so simple! Join Jennifer as she teaches you how. $5.00 fee covers your supplies. Reservation required. Call 301-475-4200, ext.1050 to register. Payment is due when registering.

National Memory Screening Day Sign up for free and confidential memory screenings that the Department of Aging and Human Services offer at both the Northern Senior Activity Center and Loffler Senior Activity Center on Monday, Nov. 18. Northern is scheduling screenings from 8:30 a.m. until noon and Loffler is scheduling screenings from 1:30 to 4 p.m. The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America National Memory Screening Day is held nationwide. Dr. Dhimitri Gross will be available to provide screenings and to answer questions afterwards. This service will provide insight into probable memory loss and information on support groups that may benefit those who want to join one. Reservations are limited. Call 301-475-4002, ext. 1001 by Friday, Nov.15 to schedule a screening at Northern, and call 301-737-5670, ext. 1658 to reserve a screening at Loffler.

Loffler Senior Activity Center 301-737-5670, ext. 1652; Garvey Senior Activity Center, 301-475-4200, ext. 1050 Northern Senior Activity Center, 301-475-4002, ext. 1001 Visit the Department of Aging’s website at www.stmarysmd.com/aging for the most up-to date information.

John Walker, Continued

By Linda Reno Contributing Writer John Holton: He has known John Burroughs for the past three years since he moved into the neighborhood.

To his knowledge, Mr. Burroughs’ reputation in the neighborhood is very good.

Joseph Burroughs and Bennet Hutchins were discharged as witnesses after being sworn since Mr. Burroughs proceeded to give evidence which the Court refused to take as it was inadmissible.

John Duke: He has known John Burroughs for 10 or 12 years. As to the reports of his character in the neighborhood, some say one way and some say another as to his veracity.

John Burroughs: The will was pre-

pared and was on the table when he arrived. He was asked by John Walker to sign the will as his witness, which he did. He was not much acquainted with Mr. Walker. It was only the first or second time he had ever seen him. John Stone came to get him to witness the will--it was a very rainy day. Mr. Walker was sitting up when he got there and was complaining. He saw Mr. Walker make his mark on the will and no one held his hand. After the will was signed, John Walker gave it to Mr. Stone and told him to put it away. Deponent lived about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 miles from Mr. Walker. Bennet Hammett lived a little closer. James Davis was John Walker’s nearest neighbor and Jere Goddard lived about a mile away.

James Davis: He has known Joseph (should be John) Burroughs since he came into the neighborhood to live and that Mr. Burroughs has not paid a strict

A Journey Through Time The

regard to veracity and that is the general reputation of Mr. Burroughs in the neighborhood. Deponent recalls the lawsuit between himself and John Walker.

Mr. Burroughs was summoned to testify for the deponent. He has known Jeremiah Goddard for a long time. When he is sober he is a man of the strictest veracity but for the past 10 or 12 years he has been most commonly drunk and then he acts like a mad man and doesn’t know what he is about. When he is sober he will not tell a lie on any account. He also stated that Austin Greenwell and Jesse Greenwell were first cousins of John Walker on the part of the mother of John Walker and that Francis Stone is a relative. He stated that there are relatives of

Chronicle

John Walker--Daniel Walker and other sisters and brothers if living. There are also first cousins of the deceased on his father’s side.

McKelvie Armsworthy: Since the will of John Walker was submitted for probate he had a conversation with John Burroughs who told him that both he and Jeremiah Goddard could prove the will of John Walker and that they were to receive $5 from Mr. Stone for their services. This conversation occurred before January 12 last.

On April 27, 1830 the will, as written, was approved for probate.

23

Thursday, October 31, 2013

The County Times

A View From The

Bleachers

Sports

20,000 Fans Roll into MIR World Cup Finals this Weekend

The Most Basic Tenet Of Success

By Ronald N. Guy Jr. Contributing Writer Inspiration often arrives unannounced.

By last Saturday night, my sketchpad resembled a madman’s dribble – or at least a writer’s random mental wanderings. Rough outlines were scattered across several pages. The feverous scribble was accentuated with arrows, cross outs and various font sizes. The penmanship would have offended my grade school phonics teacher; the vacillation between print and cursive would delight a psychiatrist. In other words, my search for this week’s topic was following a familiar course. The well-worn pages of my notebook proved the ideas were flowing, but all seemed more hors d’oeuvres than main course. The various article seedlings were talking to me, but only in a speed-dating sort of way. None held my attention much past “hello” and all quickly grew stale during preliminary exploration. I wasn’t being moved to write. I could push through and turn out a decent piece, but I seek topics that send me sprinting to the computer. Despite the leads, I wasn’t running and my computer was idle.

With my deadline lurking, I plopped down on the couch with mediocre notes and set about producing a passable product. Fortunately I flipped on Game 3 of the World Series before my aching bones and frustrated mind landed on the Lazy Boy. After much consternation, it took a tried and true friend – a baseball game – just seconds to provide meaningful direction and to retire my humdrum notes to a proper destination: the recycle bin.

This year’s fall classic between the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals features two of baseball’s most storied franchises. With the Series tied 1-1, the teams migrated from Fenway Park in Boston to Busch Stadium in St. Louis for Game 3. It didn’t take long for Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday to arrive unannounced and kick the door in on my disheveled literary house.

With the Cardinals leading 2-0 and one out in the bottom of the third inning, Holliday stepped to the plate. He hit a high, shallow fly ball into that dangerous centerfield triangle where retreating shortstops and second baseman and hard-charging centerfielders collide. Disaster was seemingly avoided when Boston centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury called for the ball. As he glided in to make the grab, the ball tipped off his glove and fell to the ground. The error should have landed Holliday safely at second base. I said should have.

As Ellsbury retrieved the ball, he fired back to first base to nail a retreating Holliday for the second out. Huh? Did Holliday fall? Roll an ankle? Why on earth wasn’t he on second base?

The replay told an unconscionable truth: Holliday dogged it out of the batters box. In the World Series…THE WORLD SERIES…Holliday didn’t see fit to run hard. He strolled down to first then awkwardly tried to turn on the jets when Ellsbury dropped the ball. Realizing he’d never make it to second, he scampered back to first – to no avail. I understand that baseball players sometimes pick their spots. If this had been the 140th game of the year and the fifth straight game in as many days, I wouldn’t be completely offended (as I am) by Holliday’s Sunday church league effort. But it wasn’t. Holliday’s loafing occurred at the pinnacle of the sport and on the stage everyone who has ever picked up a bat and ball dreams of taking. Holliday made it. He was under the brightest of lights…and didn’t bother to hustle?

Somewhere Bryce Harper and Yasiel Puig, baseball daredevils, shook their heads in disgust. Pete Rose must have thrown up a little in his mouth.

The Cardinals still won 5-4 in dramatic fashion. Had Holliday run out his fly ball, would the Cardinals have won comfortably? Who knows, but as Marty McFly taught us, changing a single thing in the space-time continuum can have a dramatic effect when you go “Back To The Future.” Regardless it was an embarrassing moment for Holliday and an ugly tribute to sloth. So whatever your chosen venture, be better than Matt Holliday. Try hard consistently. Effort, after all, is the first and most basic tenet of success.

Send comments to rguyjoon@yahoo.com

The famous 18th Annual Haltech World Cup Finals, Import vs. Domestic battle will take place at Maryland International Raceway on Friday, Saturday & Sunday, Nov. 1 to 3. The Haltech World Cup Finals features a custom car show, bikini contest, a huge vendor midway, live DJ, and of course import vs. domestic drag racing! With over 20,000 people in attendance every year the WCF has become a event phenomenon on the east coast!

Over 500 drag racers compete ever year in eleven different classes to bring you side by side action of every type of genre in drag racing with the top cars from virtually every sanctioning body and series in the country!

Racers are coming from the U.S. will be competing against racers from Canada, Puerto Rico, Aruba, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Australia, and the Middle East. It’s time to prove that these drivers has got what it takes, with each side putting their reputation and egos on the line!

In the middle of the pit area is a huge custom car show that attracts over 500 beautiful cruisers, classics, hot rods, tuners, low riders, and exotics every year. The action in the car show on Sunday will be lit up all day by photographers snapping photos of flashy cars and beautiful women.

Plus, one of the biggest attractions at the Haltech World Cup Finals is the famous bikini contest also held on Sunday with models strutting their stuff on the main stage! Also, be sure

to check over 1,500 of vendors on the vendor midway. You’ll find all kinds of parts, accessories and other items for your Import and Domestic needs at year end prices!

Friday & Saturday of the WCF event will be qualifying only. The main event will be on Sunday with eliminations, the custom car show, vendor midway, bikini contest, DJs, live music and more!

Gates open Friday at 8 a.m., and headsup and index qualifying will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Gates open Saturday at 8 a.m., and heads-up and index qualifying will also be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Gates open Sunday at 8 a.m. and eliminations for index classes start at 9 a.m. and eliminations for heads-up classes kicks off at 11 a.m. Car Show parking and registration is from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. The bikini contest starts at 4 p.m. and the car show awards is at 5 p.m.

Admission for adults is the following: 1-Day Pass is $20, 2-Day Pass is $35, and a 3-Day Pass is $50. Kids 6 to 11 are only $5 per day. General parking is free, and pit side parking is $10. The Sunday car show is just $30 and that includes the driver admission.

So be sure not to miss the 18th Annual Haltech World Cup Finals on Nov. 1 to 3, it only happens once a year and it’s going to be epic!

For full information on this event go to www.importvsdomestic.com

The County Times

Sports

Thursday, October 31, 2013

24

Week 8 Football Scores

Leonardtown 24 Northern 19 Chopticon 34 LaPlata 21 Great Mills 0 Westlake 38 St. Mary’s Ryken 28 Paul VI 12

Next Games:

Leonardtown v Chopticon

@ Leonardtown - Nov. 1, 6 p.m.

Great Mills v Lackey

@ Lackey - Nov. 1, 6:30 p.m.

St. Mary’s Ryken v Loyola Blakefield

@ St. Mary’s Ryken - Nov. 1, 7 p.m.

Local High School Football Week 8 Review Photo by Jessica Woodburn

Photo by Elliott Lawrence, Jr.

Photo by Michele Stratton

Photo by Jessica Woodburn

To submit photos of local high school football, email news@countytimes.net by 12 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to our Thursday publication.

Crossfit PAX Hosts Pax River Raiders “Barbells for Boobs” 8U Black Team Breast Cancer Awareness Event on Nov. 2

By Kay Poiro Staff Writer

This Saturday, Crossfit PAX hosts a breast cancer awareness workout event to raise funds for Barbells for Boobs, a national non-profit organization founded to help defray the costs of breast cancer detection screenings.

On Nov 2 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., gym members will complete a prescribed weightlifting workout in support of the cause. Although members only may participate in the workout, spectators, cheerleaders and donations are welcome. Crossfit PAX has a sponsored team, but individual members may also compete. Interested individuals and/or teams are encouraged to contact Crossfit PAX for sign up information.

Crossfit trainer Jennifer Ruyle and member Ashley Ward are spearheading the fundraiser. Both women have personal reasons for their involvement in Barbells for Boobs. Ruyle lost a childhood friend and other family members to the disease. Her mother-in-law had lumps removed as a result of early detection.

In addition to the workout, raffles are planned with donated items from local businesses such as Wine & Spirits and Ruddy Duck. The event is the gym’s first annual and their goal is to raise $4,000. According to Ruyle, $80 pays for one mammogram. As of Oct. 28, Crossfit PAX has raised over $2,000 in support of the cause.

Barbells for Boobs is a 501 (C) 3 nonprofit that provides funding to pay for breast cancer detection services for those who don’t qualify for assistance elsewhere.

Founded in 2009, the organization has provided funding for over 1,000 screenings nationwide.

“This is a great way for our community athletes to come together in support of an important cause,” says Ruyle. “Save a pair, save a life!”

Crossfit PAX is located at 22378 Three Notch Road, California, Md., behind Smokey Joe’s Restaurant and Pit BBQ. For more information, visit www.barbellsforboobs.org or contact Crossfit PAX at 240-317-5303. kaypoiro@countytimes.net

Photo By Frank Marquart

The Pax River Raiders 8U Black team has been a pleasant surprise to the Youth Football League (CCYFL) this season. The Raiders advanced to 8 - 0 this past Saturday and hope to close out the regular season undefeated next week against the Solomon Steelers.

The Raiders are currently ranked number 1 in both the CCYFL 8U Sr Division and the Maryland State Division II 8U rankings. The offense averages 26 points per game while the defense is only giving up 3.3 points per game. The Raiders multiple points of attack offense has kept opponents' defenses off balance all season. The offense is led by stand outs QB Jamarion Johnson, FB Shaquan Mackall, HB Ivan Foreman, and WB Antonio Chase.

Meanwhile, the Raiders stingy defense may lack size but it doesn't lack speed or toughness and has been creating havoc all season in the opponents' back field. The defense is led by stand outs DE Craig Gantt, DT Russell Haggerty, OLB Javon Duckett, and CB James Adams. The Raiders 8U Black Team is led by Head Coach Travis Flanagan and Assistant Coaches Donovan Gaspard, Keith Brooks, and Avell Barnes.

Each coach has brought something different to the team which has led to their success this season. The 8U Raiders look forward to representing Raider Nation in the playoffs and states this year!

25

Thursday, October 31, 2013

The County Times

Sports Special Olympics Maryland Annual Fall Sports Fest

By Karen Wathen St. Mary’s County Special Olympics Public Relations Manager St. Mary’s County Special Olympics participated in the Special Olympics Maryland annual Fall Sports Fest; a five-sport competition, bringing over 400 athletes from across the state to competiton a variety of sports. The competition took place in both Gaithersburg, Maryland and Emmitsburg, Maryland at Mount St. Mary’s University on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013.

Marking its 25th anniversary, Special Olympics Maryland hosted our local athletes allowing them the chance to compete

against their peers from all over the state of Maryland. The St. Mary’s delegation, comprised of 29 local athletes, had a fantastic time competing in both cycling and traditional flag football. St. Mary’s delegation had 10 flag football players and 19 cyclists attend the event.

Flag football coach, Don Bewick, reported that his team played against three unified teams from Howard County, Frederick County and Baltimore Emerge. He noted that touchdowns were scored by first year player, Durelle Scott along with veteran players, Larry Mills and Kegan Zimmerman. Players Anthony Cyrus, Avery Long and Branden Chan were recognized

Athlete Avery Long and Kegan Zimmerman celebrate after a successful flag football game.

Athlete Shaun Ridley proudly holds the St. Mary’s County Special Olympics banner during the opening ceremonies of the Fall Sports Festival.

by Bewick as having played exceptionally well during the competition. Winning two out of their three games, the team looked solid, according to Bewick. This team will be representing St. Mary’s County in the Team Maryland delegation for the Special Olympics USA Games in June 2014 held in New Jersey. Bewick noted that the mentorship of assistant coaches Marc Rinaldo and Wil Ridley has made a great impact on the cohesiveness of the team. They are looking great for their upcoming USA Games and will continue practicing diligently through June.

Cycling also did exceptionally well at Fall Sports Fest, out of the 19 cyclists, 15 athletes came home with first place suc-

cess. Athletes Joshua Fondren, Liam Maupin, Ashley Stein, Cassidy Stein, Andrew Thompson, and Phyillis White all came home with first place in both of their timed races. All cyclists finished their races with great determination and exhibited exceptional sportsmanship. Cyclist Amanda Lowe will represent St. Mary’s County within the Team Maryland delegation for USA Games.

St. Mary’s County Special Olympics is now on Facebook. For more information about the organization the progress of the athletes, please visit our website at www. stmaryso.org and our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/specialolympicssmc.

Riding Club Sponsors Dressage Clinic Nov. 10

Michele Alexander Spalding riding her horse, DeLorean, will be giving a dressage clinic for beginner to advanced level riders on November 10 at Begin Again Farm in Leonardtown. Advance registration is required and the clinic is sponsored by the St. Mary’s Riding Club.

The St. Mary’s Riding Club is sponsoring a dressage clinic with Michele Alexander Spalding from Begin Again Farm on Sunday, Nov. 10 at her Leonardtown farm.

Three classes are offered, and pending registration, more sessions will be added. The introductory class is for a rider who wants to learn some basic dressage techniques that they can apply, no matter what their riding discipline.

The next level will be for those who have tried dressage at the introductory level, and want to expand their knowledge. The next level will be riders who have participated in training Level and are ready to fine tune their skills. Each class is limited to three riders each, so there will be a great deal of personalized attention.

Alexander-Spalding is a dressage competitor and trainer and has earned her Bronze and Silver medal from the United States Dressage Federation. She is currently training with Danish Olympian Bent Jensen and has also trained with Olympians Cesar Parra and Linda Zang. She has successfully competed through the levels of dressage and is

currently competing with her horse, Montreal, at the Intermediate II and schooling her young horse, DeLorean, for the Prix St. George. Montreal had a successful start to the 2013 show season with two wins in the Intermediate II. She does continuing education by attending clinics with successful International Competitors in the Mid Atlantic and Florida.

The cost for the clinic is $35 per rider per class. The clinic fee is nonrefundable unless your space is re-sold.

Registration closes once the classes are filled. Advance payment secures a spot in the clinic. Mail checks to the St. Mary’s Riding Club, PO Box 1623, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Please note “dressage clinic” on the check or a note.

To register, send an e mail to Karenan Bailey at baileystavern@yahoo.com and provide her information on past experience in dressage, goals for you and your horse, green or experienced, etc. so that she can ensure you are placed in the proper group. She will contact riders with their lesson times. Begin Again Farm is located off Breton Beach Road at the entrance to Camp Maria.

The County Times

Obituaries

Cecil Delmore Rollins, 73

Cecil Delmore “Butch” Rollins, 73 of Charlotte Hall, Md., died Oct. 22, at his residence.

Born August 15, 1940, in La Plata, Md., he was the son of the late James Carroll Rollins and Dorsey Bell Ward.

Butch was a lifelong resident of Charles County. He was a member of the Optimist Club of Hughesville. Butch was passionate about baseball. He was a member of the Hughesville Baseball Association in which he coached for 22 years. Butch was also an oyster shucker extraordinaire. He enjoyed helping various organizations with special events such as dinners, singing at weddings, funerals, and baseball games.

In addition to his wife, Sharon Lee Rollins, Butch is survived by his son, Keith D. Rollins, of Waldorf, Md.; stepdaughters, Tina M. MacDonald (Sean), of Linthicum, Md., Sherry Ann Hutson, of Avenue, Md.; brother, Wayne Rollins, of Washington; grandchildren, Amber Compton, June Gray, Julie Hutson; great grandchildren, Shelby and Savannah Gray, and Rileigh Compton. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a step-son, John W. Higgs, brother, James David Rollins, and sister, Mary Ann Lyon.

Family received friends for Butch’s Life Celebration on Sunday, Oct. 27, at

Thursday, October 31, 2013

26

The County Times runs complimentary obituaries as submitted by funeral homes and readers.

We run them in the order we receive them. Any submissions that come to news@countytimes.net after noon on Tuesdays may run in the following week’s edition.

2 p.m. at the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department Social Hall. Interment will be private.

Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, Md.

Daniel Burch, 77 Daniel Burch 77 of Helen, Md., died August 29, at the Hospice House, Callaway, Md. Born August 25, 1936 in Helen, Md. He was the son of the late Lewis Franklin and Mary Leona Morgan Burch.

Daniel was married to Rose Regina Morris Burch on December 28, 1957 at Holy Angels Church in Avenue. She preceded him in death on December 31, 1997. He is survived by his children: Janet Deniston (Vance) of Mechanicsville, Danny Jr (Barbara) of Prince Frederick, Patty Beall (Brian) of Mechanicsville, Steven (Cathy) of Avenue and Karen Quade of Colonial Beach Va. He has 13 grandchildren: John and Michael Montgomery, Kevin, Shelly, Paul, Scott, Josh, Jennifer Burch, Kristen Holt, Joey Quade, Lindsey and Catlin Burch and Jessica Quade. He has 14 great grand children. He is also survived by his siblings: Brother, Norman Burch of Mechanicsville, Sisters: Mary Kay White of Mechanicsville and Louise Quade of

Chaptico, Sister In law Patsy Insley of Hollywood. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his infant daughter Rose Marie Burch, Infant Twin Grandsons, and his Brothers Joseph Franklin and Robert Eugene Burch.

Daniel, was a lifelong resident of St Mary’s County. He attended St. Joseph’s School and Margret Brent High School.

He was a member of The Maryland National Guard, Md., Watermens Association and Mechanicsville Moose 495. He was a farmer and a waterman. He enjoyed Nascar and Rusty Wallace was his favorite driver. He also enjoyed baseball and football and enjoyed watching his grandchildren play. But his favorite thing to do in his later years was to go dancing and singing at The Moose Lodge and St. Mary’s Landing. He became known as “Dancing Danny”. He loved telling stories with his good buddies, Tink Farrell, Eddie Faunce, and Sonny Guy. His grandchildren would listen and fall on the ground laughing at the tales.

He loved to go hunting with his grandsons and his nephews, then they would come back and tell big stories about their hunting experiences and laugh at the tales. He loved to dance with his wife, then he taught each daughter and granddaughter how to waltz. No one will ever twirl us around the floor the way our Daddy did. You felt like the whole world was watching as you danced.

A Memorial Gathering celebrating Daniel’s life will be held on Sunday Nov. 3, from 1 to 5 p.m., in the Mechanicsville Moose Lodge Mechanicsville, Md. In Lieu of flowers please make memorial contributions to The Hospice House of St. Marys P.O Box 625 Leonardtown, MD 20650.

Raymond Thompson Birch, 82

“Caring is Our Business”

FOR OVER 50 YEARS, THE COUNTY’S MOST TRUSTED SOURCE FOR QUALITY

Raymond Thompson “Ray” Birch, 82 of Mechanicsville, Md., died Oct. 23, at St. Mary’s Nursing Center, Leonardtown, Md. Ray was born on June 17, 1931 at the Susquehanna House in the town known as Pearson, Md., now known as Patuxent River Naval Air Station. He was the son of the late William Mace Birch and Ida Ruth (Abell) Birch. When the Naval Air Station opened, Ray’s family moved to a

farm in St. Inigoes.

Ray was a playful, loving, and caring family man. He was proud of his family and his hard work and charitable work through the Knights of Columbus. Growing up Ray enjoyed crabbing and fishing.

His fondest memories of his childhood included beautiful gardens, crabs, fish, boats, trips, family, food, and fun times.

He happily remembered carnivals, family reunions, county fairs, festivals, sleigh rides, parties, games and dancing.

Ray attended St. Michael’s school for twelve years. As a sophomore at St. Michael’s High School he met the love of his life Ada, a beautiful brown-eyed girl.

They married in 1950 and had nine children. Ray served in the National Guard of Maryland.

Ray lived in St. Mary’s County his entire life. When his own family was young, they lived on a small farm on Flat Iron Road in Great Mills, Md. After many of the children were grown, Ray and Ada lived in Ridge, California, Lexington Park, and most recently Mechanicsville.

Ray started working early in his life.

He worked on farms working his way up from $1 a day. When his own family was young, Ray held three jobs. For most of his working years his full time work was at Safeway in the produce department.

He retired from Safeway as Produce Manager in 1985. He was known as “Mr. Produceman”. To provide for his large family, Ray also worked a small tobacco farm, raised pigs, and was a successful salesman for first Raleigh Products then Electrolux vacuum cleaners.

Ray was an active member of the Catholic Church and an honorary life member of the Knights of Columbus.

Ray was a fourth degree member and past Grand Knight at the Holy Face Council. Ray was recognized again and again for his many works of charity including Family of the Year for two years.

Ray is survived by his wife Ada; his children, Raymond Thompson “Tom” Birch, Jr.(Linda) of Louisville, Ky., William Randall “Randy” Birch (Janice) of Champlain, Va., Gayle Dean (Jerry) of Mechanicsville, Md., Judy Free (Willie) of Clements, Md., Nettie Lou “Lou Lou” Love (Del) of Virginia Beach, Va., Cheryl Rogers (Don) of Bardstown, Ky., and Janet Jenkins (Buddy) of Gates, N.C.; nineteen grandchildren; and twenty eight great grandchildren; daughters-inlaw, Agnes Birch of Piney Point, Md. and

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26325 Pt Lookout Rd Leonardtown, MD 20650

PawsitivePassage.com 301-475-0446

27

Thursday, October 31, 2013

The County Times

The County Times runs complimentary obituaries as submitted by funeral homes and readers.

We run them in the order we receive them. Any submissions that come to news@countytimes.net after noon on Tuesdays may run in the following week’s edition.

Bertie Birch of Lexington Park, Md. Ray was preceded in death by his children, Lewis Theodore “Ted” Birch and Joseph “Joe” Birch; and grandchildren, Ben and Jason.

Family received friends on Friday, Oct. 25, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Holy Face Catholic Church. Prayers were recited at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Reverend Joseph Calis on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 11 a.m. at Holy Face Church. Interment followed in Holy Face Church Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Mary’s County Helping Hand, Inc., 24360 Beck Road, Hollywood, MD 20636.

Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, Md.

Howard Allan Buckler, 81 Howard Allan Buckler, 81 of Mechanicsville, Md., died on Oct. 25, at his residence.

Born December 13, 1931, in, Md., he was the son of the late Joseph Gwynn Buckler and Dorothy Marian Wood Buckler.

Howard was a lifelong resident of St. Mary’s County. On June 19, 1954, he married his beloved wife, Doris Jean Posey at St. Paul’s Church in Leonardtown, Md. Together they celebrated 59 wonderful years together. He served 4 years in the Air Force during the Korean War stationed in France and Germany.

He was employed for over 38 years as a master carpenter for Local 132 having worked on many high end jobs. He was a tobacco farmer, and took great pride in his farm. In addition to tobacco he also harvested corn and raised pigs. He spent his early adulthood playing baseball and was well known for his hard hitting.

During his later years, he was a player/ coach in the young men’s and rocking chair softball league. He was a remarkable player and an outstanding coach.

When his children were younger he was the leader of Boy Scout Troop 1786. His other hobbies included hunting, fishing, and boxing. He enjoyed listening to country and blue grass music. However, his greatest pride and joy were his grandchildren. He loved to spend as much time as possible with them. He was a former member of Mechanicsville Moose Lodge 495.

In addition to his beloved wife, he is survived by his children, Randy S. Buckler (Sandy) of Mechanicsville, Md., and Gary S. Buckler of Mechanicsville, Md.; his siblings, Dorothy B. Buckler of Takoma Park, Md., Faye Johnson of Mechanicsville, Md., Charles M. Buckler of Mechanicsville, Md. and Louis M. Buckler (Janet) of Mechanicsville, Md.; ten grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his children Terry Lynn Buckler, Mark Steven Buckler, Dawn Bridgett Buckler, Tracy Jean Buckler and Alan Glenwood Buckler.; his granddaughter, Barbara Standish; and his brother, James Oscar Buckler.

A Memorial Service will be cel-

ebrated by Reverend Ann Strickler on Friday, Nov. 1, at 2 p.m. at Mount Zion United Methodist Church, 21708 Mount Zion Church Road, Mechanicsville, MD 20659. Interment will be private.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517; St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 332 North Lauderdale Street, Memphis, TN 38105; Hospice of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650 or Mechanicsville Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 15, Mechanicsville, MD 20659.

Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, Md.

George Herve L’Heureux, 81 Deacon George Herve L’Heureux, 81 of Avenue, Md., died Oct. 28, at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

Born Nov. 6, 1931 in Windsor, Ontario Canada, he was the son of the late Herve Joseph L’Heureux and Jeannette Frances Blum.

Deacon George was graduated from the second diaconate class in 1972.

He just celebrated 40 years serving the community as a dedicated deacon. He has served many parishes including, St. Leo’s in Alexandria, Va., St. Patrick’s in Rockville, Md., Holy Angels in Avenue, Md. and currently, St. George’s in Valley Lee. Prior to that, he owned his own marketing company, “Associated Marketing,” for fifteen years in Alexandria, Va. Deacon George was the Chaplain for Southern Maryland Volunteer Fire Department and the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department. He was an EMT and drove the ambulance for the Seventh District Volunteer Rescue Squad in Avenue, Md. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed playing softball and golf, and played until he was 70 years old.

Deacon George is survived by his children; Stephen L’Heureux of Richmond, Va. and Susan L’Heureux of Ellicott City, Md.; his grandchildren, Joseph Sansalone of Ellicott City, Md., Jeannette Bolesta of Ellicott City, Md., Bryan Bolesta of Ellicott City, Md., and Christopher L’Heureux of Kenbridge, Va.; and three great-grandchildren, Ty L’Heureux, Cameron L’Heureux and Jason L’Heureux, all of Kenbridge, Va. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his siblings, David L’Heureux and Jean Schwab.

Family will receive friends on Friday, Nov. 1, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Prayers will be recited at 6 p.m.by Deacon Joseph Lloyd. Firemen’s prayers will follow. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Most Reverend Martin D. Holley, Auxiliary Bishop of Washington and concelebrated by Monsignor Karl Chimiak on Saturday, Nov. 2, at 11 a.m. at St. George’s Catholic Church, 19199 St. George’s Catholic Church Road, Valley Lee, MD 20692. Interment will be at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.

Obituaries

Memorial contributions may be made to the Seventh District Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 7, Avenue, MD 20609.

Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, Md.

Rose Mary Hollis, 92 Rose Mary Hollis, 92, of Callaway, Md., passed away in the early morning hours on Oct. 26, at her home in Callaway, Md. Born Oct. 9th, 1921 in Medina, N.Y., she was the loving middle child of the late Gaetano (Thomas) Ognibene and Cosimina (Minnie) Conti Ognibene.

Rose was married to Harvey Herold Hollis of St. Louis Mo., on February 14, 1946 in Washington D.C. He preceded her death on February 1980. She is survived by her son Richard Harvey Hollis of Callaway, Md., and daughter Beverly Ann Trapnell of Gaithersburg, Md.; her grandsons Eric and Mark Trapnell; and her younger sister Josephine Nielsen of Rochester, N.Y. Rose is also survived by many nieces, nephews and their offspring. She was preceded in death by her older brother Frank Ognibene, younger brother Samuel Ognibene and her dear sister, Sarah Ognibene Ricotta.

Rose migrated from New York to Washington D.C. in 1941 and started her vocation as an executive secretary at the Department of Health, Education and Welfare (later Health and Human Services) from which she retired after a 38 year career. She and her husband built their own home in Accokeek, Md., in 1950 where they raised their children and where she lived for 44 years. In 1994, Rose relocated to St. Mary’s County, Md. and lived in an adjacent apartment with her son Richard and his wife Susan.

Having been raised around her parent’s produce business, Rose loved nothing more than browsing the many Amish and other farmers markets of St. Mary’s.

An avid sports fan, Rose enjoyed rooting for the Washington Redskins, watching golf and surprised many with her love of Roller Derby action. Her zest for life, almost up to the very end of her 92 years, was an inspiration to all that knew her.

The family will receive friends on 3

Nov. 2013 from 2 to 5 p.m., with prayers recited at 3 p.m., in the Mattingly-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, Md. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday 4 Nov. 2013 at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Lexington Park, Md., with internment to follow in the church’s adjacent cemetery.

Contributions may be made to Second District Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad or Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Lexington Park, Md.

Robert Henry Morris, 92 Robert Henry “Bob” Morris, 92 of St. Inigoes, Md., died on Oct. 21, at Hospice House in Callaway, Md. Born April 26, 1921, on Jutland Farm in St. Inigoes, Md., he was the son of the late Bevins Morris and Linda Temple (Abell) Morris.

Bob was a lifelong resident of St. Mary’s County. He was employed by Raley’s Home Furnishing as a Warehouse Manager prior to his retirement.

On July 12, 2002, he married Helen Elizabeth Morris. He was a great dancer.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, George Robert Morris (Sheila) of Land O Lakes, Fla., Garnette Cooper of Ridge, Md., Philip Morris (Debbie) of Great Mills, Md., Martin Morris of Ridge, Md. and Nancy Pratt of Ridge, Md.; his twin sister, Linda Hamilton of Jacksonville, Fla.; step sons, Robert Goode of Cape Coral, Fla. and John Goode of Hereford, Ariz.; 11 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his siblings, Temple Madjeski and Bevins Morris.

A Memorial Service was conducted

by Reverend John Ball on Thursday, Oct. 24, at 11 a.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church, St. Mary’s City, Md. Interment followed the church cemetery.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Hospice House of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650 or the Ridge Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 456, Ridge, MD 20680.

Condolences to the family may be made at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.

James Roy Morgan, Sr.

October 23, 1923 - September 3, 1988

Dad, you’re in Heaven now, you’ve been gone so long. Yet our beautiful memories of you will never be gone. Today would have been your 90th Birthday. You’re not here to celebrate your special day with us.

Yet in our hearts, Dad, we’ll always remember this special date. We know mom and Steven and the rest of the family are up there sharing your special day with you.

Love your Children, Grandchildren & Great Grandchildren

The County Times

Thursday, October 31, 2013

28

In Our Community Tequila Grill Bashes Cancer

and Raises Money for Message of Hope Temo and I are grateful to everyone who bought raffle tickets and came to Tequila Grill for lunch or dinner on Sunday so that we can bring a little relief to local families dealing with this horrible disease called cancer.

- Cindy Amezcua

Photo by Elliott Lawrence, Jr.

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Custom Upholstery Custom Draperies

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www.catherinesdraperies.com

29

Thursday, October 31, 2013

The County Times

Teen Donates Birthday Money to Scholarship Fund

In Our Community

Corrine Fernald of Mechanicsville spent most of the summer of 2013 as a Camp Buddy at Camp Greenwell. As a volunteer, she helped children have an awesome camp experience. This fall, when she invited her friends to her birthday party, she asked them to forget the gifts and instead donate to the Greenwell Scholarship Fund.

The Moose Lodge in Mechanicsville let the Fernald family use the outside pavilion for the party and also made a $250 to the Greenwell Scholarship Fund. Corrine's friends answered the call and donated $110.

Thanks to Corrine, her family and friends, and the Moose Lodge, more children will be able to attend Camp Greenwell — an inclusive and accessible summer camp program where children enjoy outdoor adventures, make new friends, have fun, and just be a kid.

More information about the Greenwell Foundation, Camp Greenwell and the Greenwell Scholarship Fund: www.greenwellCorrine Fernald of Mechanicsville (top, in Sumo wrestler costume) and friends and family enjoyed Sumo wrestling as part of the festivities foudnation.org

National Youth 5K Series To Host Event in St. Mary’s County

It’s time to get moving for the National Youth 5K race! This inaugural race will take place at the Leonardtown Wharf on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 9 a.m. This race is part of a national youth series designed to challenge our youth to be active and encourage families to embrace healthy lifestyles together.

The family friendly running event includes a timed 5k and 1 mile fun run encouraging children to be active and inspiring them to triumph over life’s obstacles. The series is produced and presented by Turning Point Sports, an Annapolis based company, dedicated to helping kids overcome challenges in life, dream about their true purpose and succeed with help from their team.

The 5k will begin at 9am and the 1 mile will start a few minutes after. The race will snake through the historic streets of downtown Leonardtown and runners will finish back at the Wharf to celebrate the accomplishment of the race. All ages are invited to participate to make this an event for the entire family. Jogging strollers and walkers are welcome in both distances.

Leading the local efforts in organizing the race is Cynthia Lisa, a St. Mary’s county resident and U.S. Naval Academy classmate of Jon Brianas, National Youth 5K Series Founder.

"I’m excited to bring the National Youth 5k series here to the families of St. Mary’s County,” Lisa said.

“The race is a fun way to challenge our youth to be active and encourage families to embrace healthy life-

styles together. Whether you are 5 or 75, an avid athlete or couch kid, this will no doubt be a motivational and inspirational day!"

Leonardtown is excited to host the first National Youth 5K in St. Mary’s county. “Our streets are the venue for several charity walks and 5K runs throughout the year. But this unique opportunity encourages family members of all ages and fitness levels to be successful by working together and achieving their own personal goals,” said Mayor Dan Burris. “The National Youth 5K is a perfect example of the kinds of familyfriendly activities we like to help provide for our community, and we are pleased that Cynthia is having the inaugural event here in Leonardtown."

Proceeds from the race will benefit the Team Captain Kids Foundation (www.wear3stripes.org), “whose mission is to support children through adverse situations and to inspire teams of kids to learn about supporting friends and being “team captains in life.”

Local youth organizations will also benefit from the race. Non-profit youth organizations in the area have the opportunity to form a team of runners to participate in the race. For every runner that registers as part of the team, $5 will be donated back to the organization.

For more information or to register for the race please visit www.nationalyouth5k.com.

To volunteer or sponsor the race, please contact: info@nationalyouth5k.com

Dollars for Scholars

The Lexington Park Lions Club annual yard sale on Saturday, Oct. 19, was a great success, earning more than $1800 for our scholarship fund for Great Mills High School seniors.

Thanks to all who contributed items for sale and to those who shopped and shopped and shopped. Most especially thanks to David McKay and the McKay family for their continued support of this annual event. We simply could not have done it without all of you. Let’s do it again next year!!

The County Times

In Our Community

LIBRARY ITEMS Friends to hold mini book sale

Friends of St. Mary’s County Library will hold a book sale on the sidewalk at the Leonardtown library on Sunday, Nov. 3, from 12 noon until 3 p.m. Gently used books and other items, perfect for holiday gifts, will be sold. The rain date is Nov. 10.

Video Contest open to teens

A Teen Video Contest is underway. Teens wishing to enter the contest create a book trailer about their favorite book and then post it to YouTube by Nov. 13. The entry form is available on the teen webpage. A grand prize winner will be selected and awarded at the Video Showcase at Lexington Park branch on Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. Those attending will view all the videos and then select the winner of the viewer’s choice award.

Using Publisher for holiday items

Creating a holiday newsletter using Microsoft Publisher and photo editing sites will be the focus of a class at the Leonardtown branch on Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. Charlotte Hall branch will offer a class using Publisher to create greeting cards, photo compilations and other holiday items on Nov. 4 at 3 p.m. Lexington Park branch will offer the basic introduction to Publisher on Nov. 12 at 5:30 p.m. Registration is required for all three classes.

Leonardtown Library to host community dialogue

A community dialogue on Practicing Democracy: What does “liberty and justice for all” mean to me? will be held at the Leonardtown branch on Nov. 13 starting at 5:30 p.m. with light refreshments being served until 6:15 p.m. Those participating will reflect on how they perceive others, how they are perceived and what they understand about themselves. This is part of the 2013 Southern Maryland Public Dialogue Project Defying Definitions. The program is free but registration is required.

Free training offered for child care providers

Child care providers can earn two CEUs while learning simple activities to help the children in their care get ready to learn to read. The free training will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Lexington Park branch on Nov. 13 and at Charlotte Hall branch on Nov. 14. Registration is required.

Party planned for Hunger Games fans

It’s time for the Quarter Quell. Hunger Games fans can attend the Catching Fire program at 6 p.m. on Nov. 14 at Lexington Park branch and on Nov. 21 at Charlotte Hall branch. Those attending will face challenges to see if they have the skills and knowledge to survive the arena. The program is free.

CAT OF THE WEEK

My name is Jesse. I was really sick. They think it was pneumonia. I came from a 40 cat colony and I was caught in a trap. Normally when the property owner will take care of a colony, then Feral Cat Rescue will do what is called TNRM which means Trap, Neuter, Release and Maintain. One of the foster moms took pity on me and decided to give me antibiotics and heal me rather than put me back outside. In other words I was lucky to be sick. Because it took 3 weeks to heal me, I am super friendly now. In fact, I am in my foster mom’s bedroom right now because if I was in the living room, I would want to be with her and not let her type this bio! This is really weird but because I had to be isolated from other kitties in her house, I was kept in a bathroom with a vaporizer. Now when anyone goes in the bathroom, I want to be right there too because it would be time to get attention. I love to be petted and snuggle and loved. I have the softest fur you have ever felt in your life. It is really incredible or so I am told.

So if you are interested, please fill out an application www.feralcatrescuemd.org/uploads/FCRadoptionapplication.pdf and email to diane@feralcatrescuemd.org.

Waiting patiently for you, Jessie PS: My brother is also up for adoption and his name is Walt. You could adopt us both?

Thursday, October 31, 2013

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w e i v e R k o o B “Experimenting with Babies” by Shaun Gallagher c.2013, Penguin $16.00 / $17.00 Canada 205 pages

“10 Things You Might Not Know about Nearly Everything” by Mark Jacob and Stephan Benzkofer

c.2013, Midway Agate $15.00 / $17.95 Canada 286 pages

“1,227 Quite Interesting Facts to Blow Your Socks Off” by John Lloyd, John Mitchinson, and James Harkin c.2013, Norton $15.95 334 pages

By Terri Schlichenmeyer OW contributor So whaddaya know?

Probably quite a bit, when it comes right down to it. You know where you are, what’s in front of you, and how to read these words, for starters.

You know what it’s like outside, what you had for breakfast, and what you did last night. But do you know about Jimmy Carter’s gaffe, or Desi Arnaz’s huge near-mistake, or how a baby will react to a spinning toy? These are things you’ll learn when you’ve got three new trivia books in front of you.

First of all, if there’s a wee one in your family this year or if someone with an infant is visiting, you’ll want to read “Experimenting with Babies” by Shaun Gallagher.

Though the title may seem tonguein-cheek, this book offers up fifty (very safe) activities you can do with a very young child, all of which will teach you a little bit of science, a little bit of physiology, and a lot about how babies develop.

You’ll see how motor skills begin, how preferences emerge, what babies know, what researchers are just starting to understand, and how it all relates to the health of a baby.

Best of all, you’ll have a lot of interesting fun with a small child. Babysitting, anyone?

Next, you’ll never again feel like a dummy at any classroom or party once you’ve read “10 Things You Might Not Know About Nearly Everything” by Mark Jacob and Stephan Benzkofer.

Through dozens of 10-Lists, you’ll

learn about oddball things like hair and elephants. You’ll see how a Wyoming desperado walked around after he died.

You’ll find out what lies beneath Detroit.

You’ll discover which city’s resident diners are the best tippers. You’ll be glad you weren’t a royal newlywed in the 18th century. You’ll learn about running, football, and stadiums. And you’ll find out a lot of cool trivia about Chicago because, after all, the authors work at a newspaper there.

And finally, if you’re a bouncearound-and-browse kind of reader, then “1,227 Quite Interesting Facts to Blow Your Socks Off” by John Lloyd, John Mitchinson, and James Harkin was practically written for you.

With this book in your mitts, you’ll find out what simple thing Elizabeth Taylor didn’t know how to do. You’ll read about Richard Nixon’s college insecurity.

You’ll learn Fidel Castro’s time-saving secret. You’ll see what other book L. Frank Baum published 113 years ago (hint: it’s about as far from Oz as you can get).

You’ll discover the interesting meanings of “smellsmock,” “gymnophoria,” “engastration,” “gongoozler,” “chork,” and “gynotikilobomassophile.” You’ll find out what cocaine does to your heart. And you’ll be very thankful that you’re not a tiger shark embryo or the wife of Zeus.

I love books like this because they’re great fun and easy to enjoy. With these three books, you will asolare for hours.

Time with them will be autotelic, and you’ll dazzle everyone with your brilliance. Yes, there are other trivia books out there, but these are three of the best and you can’t live without them – you know?

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Thursday, October 31, 2013

The County Times

Announcin Issued Marriage Applications for July 2013 July 1, 2013 Sherri Melissa Shelton 43 Mechanicsville, Md Douglas Alan Carlson 47 Mechanicsville, Md Jordan Kyle Quade 22 Mechanicsville, Md Paula Kay Owens 22 Mechanicsville, Md July 2, 2013 Patricia Josephine Messick 18 Leonardtown, Md Brandon Eric Thompson 24 Leonardtown, Md July 3, 2013 Lisa Marie Pridgen 47 Waldorf, Md Michael Patrick Hoepfl 53 Mechanicsville, Md July 5, 2013 Erik Lawson Wynkoop 28 Plano, Tx Sara Marie Isley 26 Plano, Tx Jason Vaughan Ketchel 30 King George, Va Amanda Lee Daldwell 28 King George, Va Donald Murray 50 Mechanicsville, Md Emily Ann Valcarel 28 Mechanicsville, Md Stephanie Marie Reeves 31 California, Md James Lewis Lee Russell 29 California, Md Marcus Nathaniel Bush, Sr., 30 Lexington Park, Md Andrea Juanita Roy 21 Brandywine, Md

Angela Marie Talbert 22 Mechanicsville, Md David Raymond Richter 22 Hammond, In

Adam Barrett Keeling 27 Gaithersburg, Md Christina Marie Feeney 25 Gaithersburg, Md

Melanie Ann McCadden 36 Lexington Park, Md George Michael Bowes, Jr., 35 Lexington Park, Md

Melissa Maxine Suite 27 Gaffney, Sc Joseph William Rodgers 35 Gaffney, Sc

Daniel Levi Funk 26 Waldorf, Md Carly Lorranie Kotwas 25 Waldorf, Md

July 22, 2013

William Douglas Bibbins 30 Lusby, Md Megan Lynette Mosko 24 Lusby, Md

July 9, 2013

July 16, 2013

Sally Barns Sutherland 72 Corzier, Va Mary Jacqueline Hobbs 71 Corzier, Va

Rujie Cao 30 Great Mills, Md Rapeepan Kulkanchanachewin 27 Washington, Dc

Michalea Chanique Woodland 25 Lexington Park, Md Joseph Lavon Mason 39 Mechanicsville, Md

Joseph Myron Taylor 33 Great Mills, Md Wanita Deavon Knott 33 Lexington Park, Md

Bryan Curtis Ketron 32 Oakland, Ca Ikaika Sebastian San Nicolas 25 Anchorage, Ak

July 29, 2013

Randolph Eugene Payne, Jr., 33 Hollywood, Md Jennifer Lynn Kravats 30 St. Inigoes, Md July 10, 2013 Chad Arthur Gagnon 26 Mechanicsville, Md Rebecca Ann Johnson 24 Mechanicsville, Md Tammy Ann Bassofrd 31 Lexington Park, Md Nathaniel Gerard Campbell 36 Lexington Park, Md Sara Lynn Walthall 37 Park Hall, Md James Lee Dufour, Jr., 36 Park Hall, Md July 11, 2013 Tami Marie Tompkins 38 Leonardtown, Md William Lee Flarida 46 Leonardtown, Md Bailey Margaret Costantino 24 Baltimore, Md Evan James Carrozza 25 Baltimore, Md July 12, 2013

Michael John Marucci 45 Brooklyn Park, Md Barbara Jean Willis 42 Brooklyn Park, Md Wendell Jason Jordan 40 Upper Marlboro, Md Melissa Dawn Phillips 36 Upper Marlboro, Md Cierra Ashleigh Kennedy 21 Hollywood, Md Darryl James Johnson 22 Hollywood, Md July 17, 2013 Tarra Renee Hill Patuxent River, Md Jason B Fitzpatrick, Jr. 19 Patuxent River, Md Nicole Noelle Roda 21 Great Mills, Md Mohammad Abdullah Farahat 28 Great Mills, Md

Sandra Marie Kowalski 49 Port St. Lucie, Fl Sharon Elizabeth Elzer 47 Port St. Lucie, Fl James Theodore Bailey, Jr., 55 California, Md Krystyna Rejentowicz 57 California, Md July 23, 2013 Alla Corey 37 Silver Spring, Md Eric Scott McCoy 38 Silver Spring, Md Lisa Ann Sinclair 28 Charlotte Hall, Md Matthew Lee Beasley 26 Charlotte Hall, Md

July 18, 2013

Susan Marie Sinclair 28 Charlotte Hall, Md Zachary Scott Bongianino 32 Charlotte Hall, Md

Stacey Alyce Marley 26 Charlotte Hall, Md Jeffrey Scott Burch 26 Charlotte Hall, Md

Melanie Dawn Dark 25 Severn, Md Christian Philipp Born 31 Bad Homburg, Germany

Jenna Maria Knott 25 Great Mills, Md Clinton Roy Smith 25 Mechanicsville, Md

July 24, 2013

James Edward Kelly, Jr., 40 Leonardtown, Md Brnadi Lynee’ Mason 34 Leonardtown, Md

Jordan Ashley Gaines 24 Elkridge, Md Christopher Michael Lewis 25 Woodbine, Md

Clifford Garison Starr 30 Mount Joy, Pa Brittany Nicole Neff 27 Mount Joy, Pa

Sean Christopher Slick 26 Mechanicsville, Md Nicole Marie Stecker 25 Mechanicsville, Md

Kia Lolita Thomas 34 Lexington Park, Md Torrae Derome Hebb 32 Lexington Park, Md

Michelle Renee Miller 27 Mechanicsville, Md Troy Michael Wooddell 26 Mechanicsville, Md

July 8, 2013

July 15, 2013

Melanie Ann Hall 26 White Plains, Md Alex Joseph Bozick 25 Waldorf, Md

Suzanne Hunt Vargas 70 Callaway, Md Manuel Antolin Laungayan 70 Callaway, Md

Leslie Anne Evans 25 California, Md Jesse Michael Mcallister 24 California, Md

Deborah Lynn Bartholomew 44 Waldorf, Md Phyllis Ann Jones 50 Waldorf, Md

Aryelle Rose Lawson 22 Derwood, Md Eric Malcom Roebuck 25 Derwood, Md

Lisa Nicole Kline 27 Mechanicsville, Md Andrew Scott Willingham 27 Mechanicsville, Md

July 19, 2013 John Francis Wrightson 56 Greensboro, Md Sharon Lynn Griffin 56 Greensboro, Md Ly’Chel Edith Carmichael 29 District Heights, Md Mckenna Marvin Randolph Baker 33 Washington, Dc Charles Stephen Russell 29 Lusby, Md Grace Adele Roy 24 Lusby, Md

Warren Robert Sameuls 26 Concord, Ma Nicole Elysse Yesalavage 24 Concord, Ma

Dale Wayne Bowles 47 Charlotte, Nc Michael Lee Halbeisen 50 Concord, Nc Keith William Lanahan 32 Crofton, Md Denise Elizabeth Metzler 33 Crofton, Md Lisa Joy Glassman 30 Silver Spring, Md Mindy Faye Hirsch 33 Silver Spring, Md July 30, 2013 Christy Irena Chalos 47 South Chesterfield, Va Deborah Glynn Brown 51 South Chesterfield, Va Ashleigh Nicole Dawson 29 Lusby, Md Alan Robert Toth 36 Lusby, Md Rodney Ricardo Taylor 46 Clinton, Md Demitra Anntonette Taylor 39 Clinton, Md Christina Marie James 26 California, Md Sir Patrick Dwight Evans 27 California, Md July 31, 2013

July 25, 2013

Derrick Andre Jordan 28 Callaway, Md Joy Noel Moore 30 Callaway, Md

Julie Mae Smith 23 Bryantown, Md Stephen Brian Cross, Jr., 25 Bryantown, Md

Krista Lynn Thomas 25 Lexington Park, Md Ryan Matthew Cowne 27 Lexington Park, Md

Heather Nicole Hale 26 Mechanicsville, Md Christian Richard Forest 25 Mechanicsville, Md

Nicole marie Paternoster 21 Atlantic Beach Fl Christopher Alex Ritner 22 Leonardtown, Md

Jennifer Suzanne Mynes 20 Hollywood, Md Shawn Michael Combs 22 Hollywood, Md

Erin Elizabeth Black 32 Newburg, Md Goirdon Earl Sessions, III 39 Newburg, Md

July 26, 2013

Margaret Gertrude Lacey 37 Avenue, Md Robert Russell Breon, Jr., 41 Avenue, Md

Elizabeth Lynn Ellis 25 Lusby, Md Joshua Matthew Seehan 27 Lusby, Md

Call The County Times to Place an Engagement Announcement - It’s Free!

301-373-4125

The County Times

Thursday, October 31, 2013

32

To submit your event listing to go in our Community Calendar, please email news@countytimes.net with the listing details by 12 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to our Thursday publication.

November All Month Long North End Gallery November 2013 41652 Fenwick Street, Leonardtown, 5 to 8 p.m.

Fall is a beautiful and busy time of the year.

It brings us crisp weather, colorful leaves, special Holidays and that ever busy schedule. Visit us at the North End Gallery and take a moment to enjoy the current All Member Show that will be hanging until November 24. Also plan to join us for our First Friday event that will take place at the Gallery on Friday, November 1st.

The Gallery is located in downtown Leonardtown. They may be reached at 301-4753130. The Web address is www.northendgallery.org.

Thursday, Oct. 31 Pulled Pork Sliders 23282 Three Notch Rd., California, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The VFW is a great place to unwind and relax after a hard day at work; so come by enjoy some Pulled Pork Sliders, they are just the right size to enjoy by yourself or to share with friends! Buy one for $2, four for $7 or eight for $12; also add fries for an additional $2. Sliders is a great night for a workplace social or to catch up with old friends, so make sure you bring them along for a great time.

Vampire Halloween Party Three Notch Theatre, Lexington Park, 8 p.m.

Don your fangs and cape and join us for a special performance of “Dracula,” based on Bram Stoker’s novel. Our Halloween party includes a vampire costume contest (family friendly costumes only, please) and spooky refreshments. Tickets just $10 general admission.

Visit www.newtowneplayers.org for more details.

Friday, Nov. 1 Preview the Holidays Gift Show Opal Fine Art, Park Avenue, Leonardtonwn, 5 to 8 p.m.

Join Opal Fine Art during 1st Friday in Leonardtown. We offer unique works of art for gift giving that are created by the hand.

A reception will be held.

Saturday, November 2 Fall Craft Fair 2nd District Volunteer Fire Department , 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This is for crafters only. A space / table is $25. Contact Robin at 301-737-4366 / 240-577-0270 for application or info.

All Faith Church Annual Fall Dinner 28165 Hills Club Road, Mechanicsville, 12 noon to 5 p.m.

All Faith Episcopal Church of Charlotte Hall will be hosting its Annual Fall Dinner at the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department social hall. The meal includes fried oysters, Southern Maryland stuffed ham, fried chicken, side dishes, and drinks. The dinner is $22 for adults and $10 for children 8 years old and younger. Carry-out dinners are also available for $22 each. Crafts, desserts, and

a silent auction are also featured. Proceeds are dedicated to the maintenance of the church, which is 246 years old. For more information about the fall dinner, call All Faith Episcopal Church at 301-884-3773, or visit the website at www.allfaithchurch.com Used Clothing Drive Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The GFWC Woman’s Club of St. Mary’s County will be having a Used Clothing Drive. This will be held on the upper level of the parking lot.

The purpose of this fund raiser is to raise money for the Scholarship Fund. Our organization awards at least 2 scholarships annually to those students who demonstrate financial need and academic performance.

Extracurricular activities, community service and character are also considered.

A&E Clothing Corporation from Cateret, New Jersey will be processing the used clothing. They are a for-profit company that helps non-profits raise money.

We will receive money for every pound we collect. The clothing is sent to areas in the United States and developing countries around the world that have demonstrated the most need. It is then resold. This provides jobs for people in the United States and abroad which helps local communities and economies.

Things that A&E collects are usable and wearable clothing for all season’s and all sizes of Men’s, Ladies and Kids clothing as well as shoes. Accessories that are collected are: pocketbooks, belts, baby accessories, back packs, hats, scarves, briefcases, gloves, ties and handbags.

Household items such as blankets, tablecloths, bed sheets, draperies, curtains, pillows, towels, small rugs, quilts, comforters, and pots and pans may also be included.

Beanie Babies, rag dolls, stuffed animals, action figures, cars, trucks, airplanes, doll houses, dolls and bicycles of any size may also be donated.

Please put all items to be donated into 30 gallon tightly tied plastic bags with the exception of hard toys that should be put in a box 24” x 24”.

They do not collect VCR Tapes, CD’s, books, oversized play sets or outdoor play sets, car seats or exercise equipment.

Your donation is tax deductible. The Woman’s Club is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We will provide you with a receipt for your donation.

If you have any questions please contact Betty Currie at 301-373-4816 or Noreen Neel at 301-994-1038.

Sunday, Nov. 3 Summerseat Farm Open House 26655 Three Notch Road, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visitors are welcome to bring a picnic lunch and blanket to enjoy an old fashion picnic or may use the gazebo or nearby picnic tables around the garden. Summerseat is a 120-acre working farm that features a smoke house, spring house, tobacco barns, gardens, as well as goats, pigs, chickens, geese and a unique herd of American bison (buffalo). Visitors may meet and feed our farm animals. Summerseat Farm, Inc., is a nonprofit established to “save the farm” and is completely supported by volunteers,

memberships and fundraisers. We are located approximately 5 miles north of Hollywood Intersection, on Route 235 See our website at www.summerseat.org for more information, to volunteer, or to set up group tours or call 301-373-6607. Fee: Donation Appreciated.

Basket Bingo to benefit Stephen’s Fund Mechanicsville Fire Department Social Hall, 12:30 p.m.

The Charlotte Hall Rotary Club will host their 14th annual Super Holiday Basket Bingo to benefit Stephen’s Fund. Proceeds will benefit special needs children and their families. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. and bingo will start at 1:30 p.m. Over $5,000 in prizes to be won. Two for one - all regular game baskets will be filled with another Longaberger Basket. Make a reservation to be included in the drawing to win the 2013 Tree Trimming Basket. The group leader with the most reservations will win the 2013 Christmas Basket. Pull tabs for baskets, King Tut, 20 door prizes & more. To reserve a table for 6 or more or to be included in the drawing please call Shirley at 240-298-3885 or Shirley.mattingly@verizon.net.

Mother Catherine Spalding School Christmas Bazaar and Craft Fair 28833 Chaptico Road, Mechanicsville, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Come visit with Santa, make a gingerbread man, play bingo, bid on silent auction items, try your luck with the cake walk or raffles. Door prizes will be given. Crafter items for sale include Christmas decorations, children’s items, homemade/ handmade jewelry, sewn items, paintings, country crafts, crocheted items, jams and jellies, dip mixes, and much more. Lunch will be available in our kitchen plus you can stop by the bake table and pick up a dessert. For more information, visit the our website at www.mothercatherine.org or call 301-884-3165.

Friends to Hold Mini Book Sale St. Mary’s County Library, Leonardtown, 12 to 3 p.m.

Friends of St. Mary’s County Library will hold a book sale on the sidewalk. Gently used books and other items, perfect for holiday gifts, will be sold. The rain date is Nov. 10.

PaxSpace Grand Opening and Open House 44178 Airport View Drive, Bay 13, Hollywood - 12 to 5 p.m.

Come to the PaxSpace Grand Opening and Open House. Come by to see the new space, meet the founders, hear the plans, and start your membership! PaxSpace is located at the front of the industrial park just north of the St. Mary’s County Airport, in the second row of bays behind CarQuest, BCF Solutions and Polson Metals.

PaxSpace is a community-operated physical space, where people can meet and work on their projects. Our main purpose is to address, educate, coordinate, and provide education and scientific awareness to Southern Maryland to bring back the American spirit to be makers instead of just consumers. For more information, go to www.paxspace. org.

Monday, Nov. 4 Using Publisher for holiday items St. Mary’s County Libraries Creating a holiday newsletter using Microsoft Publisher and photo editing sites will be the focus of a class at the Leonardtown branch on at 2 p.m. Charlotte Hall branch will offer a class using Publisher to create greeting cards, photo compilations and other holiday items on Nov. 4 at 3 p.m.

Lexington Park branch will offer the basic introduction to Publisher on Nov. 12 at 5:30 p.m. Registration is required for all three classes.

Tuesday, Nov. 5 Zumba Fitness St. Mary’s Sunshine Center, Leonardtown , 6 p.m.

A fun energetic aerobic work-out with a Latin inspired routine. Zumba fitness every Tuesday and Thursday evening .the cost is $5 per class or $25 for a 6-class pass.

Holiday Shopping Event 21560 Greentree Drive, Lexington Park, 6 p.m.

Join the fun at Glenn Forest Community Building in Lexington Park for a holiday shopping event that can cross everyone off your list! Beat the crowds this year and drop by to browse all the products that Scentsy, Velata, and Grace Adele have to offer!

See all the newest catalogs and items to get your orders in for all your gift-giving needs. Products available to order include food gifts, housewares, bath and body products, wickless candle systems, home and personal fragrance items, greeting cards, handbags, jewelry and accessories, adorable stuffed animals, and more!

Wednesday, Nov. 6 Free Beginner Line Dance Lessons Hotel Charles, 15100 Burnt Store Rd., Hughesville, 7 p.m.

The Boot Scooters of Southern Maryland offer free beginner Line Dance Lessons every Wednesday night. Guests may stay and watch, or even participate in, the more advanced practice session that follows the beginner lessons. Anyone interested in obtaining more information about these lessons can contact us through the Boot Scooters of Southern Maryland website at www. bootscootersofsomd.blogspot.com.

Thursday, Nov. 7 Florida Tech Patuxent Instant Decision Day 21803 A Three Notch Road Lexington Park, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Considering pursuing a Master’s degree from Florida Tech’s Patuxent Site?

Join us for an information session - Meet & Greet with Faculty Staff - Food and Drink - Easy apply and enroll. Application fees are waived for new applicants who attend! Just bring an unofficial copy of your college transcripts. Register in advance online at blog.fit.edu/esd-instant-decisionday-patuxent *Admittance contingent upon receipt of official academic records Contact Information:www.fit.edu/patuxent Patuxent@fit.edu 301-862-1004

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The County Times

Thursday, October 31, 2013

From my Backyard to our Bay A St. Mary’s County Resident’s Guide to Improving Our Environment and Drinking Water

From My Backyard to Our Bay was first developed by the Baltimore County Soil Conservation District. From there, the booklet was given to each of the Soil Conservation Districts in the Chesapeake Bay watershed area for customization. If the 17.5 million residents who live in the watershed area of the Chesapeake Bay read this booklet, and took to heart its suggestions and best practices, the Chesapeake Bay would see a dramatic increase in health. Obtain a FREE copy of the booklet by going to the St. Mary’s River Watershed Association, smrwa.org and downloading it. The booklet is available at Wentworth Nursery in Charlotte Hall; Chicken Scratch in Park Hall; The Greenery in Hollywood; Good Earth Natural Food; and the St. Mary’s Soil Conservation District in Leonardtown.

Join your local watershed association and make a difference for Our Bay!

smrwa.org

Country Living:

the water slowly infiltrates into the underlying soil. Dissolved or suspended wastes and bacteria in the water are trapped or absorbed by soil particles or decomposed by microorganisms.

These microorganisms perform the only treatment of the water before it percolates into the groundwater. Under normal conditions, the microorganisms perform well, unless very toxic materials overwhelm the septic system.

Microorganism performance can also be diminished if the drain field becomes saturated with stormwater.

The typical household septic system produces almost 30 pounds of nitrogen pollution per year. If you live in the Critical Area, odds are very good that your household nitrogen is making its way to your local river.

Best Available Technology (BAT) for septic systems is an advanced onsite sewage treatment system that will greatly reduce the amount of

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Taking Care of Your Septic (Wastewater) System In areas without public sewer service, household wastewater (from the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry) is treated by individual septic systems.

A septic system has two major components: a septic tank and a drain field. Wastewater sewage flows from the house to the septic tank, which retains wastewater long enough for the heavy solids to settle to the bottom.

A solid pipe leads from the septic tank to a distribution box, where the untreated wastewater is channeled to the drain field – one or more perforated pipes set in trenches of gravel. Here

From

nitrogen emitted from a septic system.

BAT units combine settling of solids, extended aeration, and recirculation to produce a greatly reduced amount of nitrogen in the effluent. The typical traditional household septic system produces 24.7 pounds of nitrogen per year. BAT systems can cut that load in half.

Tips for Septic System Care • Tanks generally need to be pumped out every 2 to 3 years, depending on use, the size of the tank, and the number of people in the house. If the tank gets too full, sludge particles will flush out of the tank and clog the drain lines. The EPA recommends tanks be pumped before sludge and scum accumulations exceed 30% of the tank volume.

More tips continued next week…

This is the twenty-third in a series of articles that Mary Ann Scott (maryann.scott58@yahoo.com) has adapted from From My Backyard to Our Bay in the hopes of increasing awareness of the powerful booklet that could do so much to help the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Look for the next article in next week’s County Times!

Bay-Wise landscapes minimize negative impacts on our waterways by using smarter lawn management techniques and gardening practices. The University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener Bay-Wise program in St. Mary’s County offers hands-on help with managing your landscape by providing information, a site visit, and landscape certifications.

Our yardstick checklist is easy to understand and follow, and our team of trained Master Gardeners can help guide you through it while offering suggestions to improve both the appearance and sustainability of your landscape.

Call Now & Schedule a Visit!

301-475-4120 extension.umd.edu/baywise

Start a Movement in Your Neighborhood…Be the First to be Certified Bay-Wise!

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The County Times

Entertainment

Thursday, October 31, 2013

34

Photo by Tia LePore of Tia Rose Photography

“Dracula” Offers Spooky Entertainment Gates of Summerseat

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer Just in time for Halloween, the Newtowne Players are staging a deliciously scary version of "Dracula," based on the novel by Bram Stoker.

Utilizing a rotating stage, creative props and a fog machine, the crew brought the setting of Dr. Seward’s sanitarium and a hidden crypt to life. The attention to detail on the set and in the sound, a mix of subtle and spooky sounds, sets the perfect atmosphere for Three Notch Theatre’s latest play.

The eight-man cast features Jennifer Carnahan playing Miss Wells, Peter Klug playing Jonathan Harker, John Giusti playing Dr. Seward, Kirk Kugel playing Abraham Van Helsing, James Le Pore as madman R.M. Renfield, Matthew Dowdle as Renfield’s keeper, Butterworth, Emily Funderburk as Lucy Seward and Jeff Maher as the titular Count Dracula.

Each actor is a veteran of the Three Notch Theatre stage, and some are even veterans to the horror genre. Kugel played the part of Victor Frankenstein in the North Beach based Twin Beach Player’s production of “Frankenstein” in 2012.

Both Maher and Kugel had plenty of inspiration to draw from, with their characters being two of the most well known in vampire-based fiction. Both of them had to practice accents and find the one they believed fit best with their characters, one a well traveled and multilingual scholar of the paranormal and the other a enigmatic, charismatic multi-centurion vampire.

“This Dracula is a mysterious gentleman with a myste-

Madmen, Vampires and Mesmerism rious past and a contempt for the human race,” Maher said.

“He doesn’t have a lot of love.”

LePore delivers a performance as a madman that stops just shy of being too over-the-top, managing to keep the audience guessing about his loyalties, which are divided at best, and inspire sympathy for a man who has clearly lost

his mind.

The play runs through Nov. 10, with a special Halloween night production at 8 p.m. For more information, visit www.newtowneplayers.org. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

By Kay Poiro Staff Writer

St. Mary’s County Thrills The World

On Saturday, Oct. 26th, House of Dance hosted the annual international “Thrill The World” event. “Thrill The World” is a worldwide, zombie-themed dance tribute to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” which is streamed live via the Internet.

This year, Hollywood, Md. was one of only two locations in the state registered to take part. For the past month, participants were taught choreography in weekly rehearsals by event manager and House of Dance owner Donna Jordan. Last Saturday afternoon consisted of last minute runthroughs, as well as costume and makeup retouches prior to the live stream.

Nearly 20 “zombies” registered for this year’s dance. The youngest dancer was seven years old with some traveling from

as far as Washington, D.C. to participate.

Since 2006, Thrill The World has been raising money for local charities. According to Thrilltheworld.com, last year’s event included over 9,000 dancers in 21 countries.

Next year’s Thrill The World is scheduled for October 25th, 2014 and Donna Jordan is planning to bring it back bigger than ever.

“It’s a great way to get the community moving,” Donna Jordan says. “Plus, it’s free and it’s fun.”

House of Dance is located at 24620 Three Notch Road, Hollywood, Md. For more information about Thrill The World, call House of Dance at 301-373-6330 or visit www.thrilltheworld.com. kaypoiro@countytimes.net

The County Times

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Wh at’s What’s

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Entertainment

Agatha Christie Murder Mystery

The Twin Beach Players are holding their final performances of Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1 and 2 at 8 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 3 p.m. The shows will be held at The Boys and Girls Club of Southern Maryland, located at 9021 Dayton Avenue in North Beach. Tickets are Tickets are $12 General admission. $10 for Members, Students, Seniors and Military. For more information, visit their website www.twinbeachplayers.com or call 410-286-1980

n O g n Goi

In Entertainment

Thursday, Oct. 31

Vampire Halloween Party Three Notch Theatre (21744 South Coral Drive, Lexington Park) 8 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 1 Absinthe Murphy’s Pub (6971 Indian Head Highway, Bryans Rd.) 9:30 p.m.

Halloween Party Toot’s Bar (23971 Mervell Dean Rd., Hollywood) 9 a.m.

Halloween Party Round 1 with the PIRANHAS Ruddy Duck (13200 Dowell Rd, Dowell) 8 to 11 p.m.

HALLOWEEN PARTY WITH CHARLIE THOMPSON Toot’s Bar (23971 Mervell Dean Rd, Hollywood)

Saturday, Nov. 2 R&R Train Band Gridiron Grill (20855 Callaway Village Way Callaway) 9 p.m.

15 Strings Morris Point Restaurant (38869 Morris Point Rd., Abell) 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Halloween Party Round 2 with Mixed Business Ruddy Duck (13200 Dowell Rd, Dowell) Photos courtesy of Sid Curl

Bluegrass for Hospice Had Large Turnout

Costume Contest Ruddy Duck (13200 Dowell Rd, Dowell) 10 p.m.

Hate the Toy, Love the Rock and Roll Toot’s Bar (23971 Mervell Dean Rd, Hollywood) Sunday, Nov. 3 Halloween brunch and Kids Costume Contest Ruddy Duck (13200 Dowell Rd, Dowell) 11 a.m.

$1.50 Beer During Redskins or Ravens Game Toot’s Bar (23971 Mervell Dean Rd, Hollywood)

Charlie Thompson Toot’s Bar (23971 Mervell Dean Rd, Hollywood) 3 to 7 p.m.

Monday, Nov.4 Bud Light Karaoke Contest Toot’s Bar (23971 Mervell Dean Rd., Hollywood) 8 p.m.

Team Trivia Ruddy Duck (13200 Dowell Rd, Dowell Meatball Monday Toot’s Bar (23971 Mervell Dean Rd, Hollywood) 4 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 5 $2 Imported or Domestic Bottled Beer, Crown and Captian Toot’s Bar (23971 Mervell Dean Rd, Hollywood) Taco Bar Toot’s Bar (23971 Mervell Dean Rd, Hollywood) 4 p.m.

Karaoke with DJ Tommy and DJ OT Hard Times Café (1120 Smallwood Drive, West Waldorf) 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov.6 Wolf’s Blues Jam Londontowne Pub (726 Londontowne Rd., Edgewater) 8 p.m.

Team Trivia Toot’s Bar (23971 Mervell Dean Rd, Hollywood) 6:30 p.m.

DJ Toot’s Bar (23971 Mervell Dean Rd, Hollywood) 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 7 Karaoke Applebees (4100 N W Crain Highway, Bowie) 9 p.m.

The County Times is always looking for more local talent to feature!

To submit art or band information for our entertainment section, e-mail info@somdpublishing.net. Please submit calendar listings by 12 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to our Thursday publication.

Email in your Engagement Announcement Today!

It’s Free!

Photos courtesy of Jay Armsworthy

angiestalcup@countytimes.net

The County Times

Thursday, October 31, 2013

CLASSIFIEDS Placing An Ad

Email your ad to: sales@countytimes.net or Call: 301-373-4125 or Fax: 301-373-4128. Liner Ads (No artwork or special type) Charged by the line with the 4 line minimum. Display Ads (Ads with artwork, logos, or special type) Charged by the inch with the 2 inch minimum. All private party ads must be paid before ad is run.

Publication Days

The County Times is published each Thursday.

Deadlines are Wednesday at 12 noon Office hours are: Monday thru Friday 8am - 4pm

Real Estate for Sale

Real Estate Rentals

2.8 secluded acres overlooking a pond.

Hardwood floors. Fireplace in family room is great place to spend the holidays. The kitchen has many stainless upgrades and over looks the family room. Separate dining room and living room. Large master with a room that could be used for an office. Large detached 3 car garage/shop w/ 800+ sq ft overhead storage. Hot tub and large back deck. Price: $439,000. Call 240-561-2144.

House for Rent 4 Bedroom 2 Bathroom Fenced Backyard Close to PAX & Shopping Centers Lexington Park $1385 Per Month plus utilities Call 215-514-0653 or 301-863-7899

Real Estate Rentals Rambler for Rent in Mechanicsville: Freshly painted clean home, country kitchen, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, hardwood floors. Non smoking home, no pets, no section 8 please. Please call Janette at (301) 884-3853. Rent: $1,250.

Prince Frederick, Maryland (Calvert County). Nice room in private home with 2 closets and storage area. Less than 1 mile to all shopping, and CSM. Public transportation across the street.

Includes utilities, AC, WIFI, and cable.

Available immediately. Call Rick 443968-4727. Rent: $600.00

Important Information

The County Times will not be held responsible for any ads omitted for any reason. The Ccounty Times reserves the right to edit or reject any classified ad not meeting the standards of The County Times. It is your responsiblity to check the ad on its first publication and call us if a mistake is found. We will correct your ad only if notified after the first day of the first publication ran.

Employment

Employment

Looking for a auto detailer with mechanical skills. Primary job will be detailing automobiles. Some mechanical experience will be required for heavy times. If interested please e-mail algar34@gmail.com or fax resume to 301-737-4206 or call 301-737-6400.

Large organization located in Piney Point, MD has a full time Laborer position open.

Duties include – cutting grass, trimming hedges and trees, cleaning the shop, maintaining equipment, helping with the flowerbeds, mulching, and assisting the maintenance department when needed on base and other school properties.

We offer an excellent benefits package.

Compensation is $7.50/hour. Please send resume via email to mszepesi@seafarers. org or fax at (301) 702-6060. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. Salary can be adjusted at employers discretion based on experience, skill, ability, seniority, and/or education.

Chesapeake Neurology Associates has a full-time position available for a RN/ LPN. Experience preferred. Candidate must possess current Maryland Licensure.

Strong writing skills necessary. Act as a liaison between patient and MD/ CRNP in meeting patient needs between office visits. Additional responsibilities discussed during interview. Paid holidays, health benefits package, and flexible schedule. No phone calls accepted. Faxed resumes only to (410) 535-6030 or email

TEL: 301-373-4125 • FAX: 301-373-4128 • sales@countytimes.net

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Thursday, October 31, 2013

Business

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CLUES ACROSS

1. Character (abbr.)

4. Animal companions 8. A country in SE Asia 10. Of Carthage 11. On top of 12. Boater hat 13. Eat rapidly (slang) 15. Paddlers 16. Food consumer 17. Aeronaut 18. Tonto’s Kemosabe 21. Division of geological time 22. Hill (Celtic) 23. Towing boat 24. Clatter 25. Trees of the genus Abies 26. Deprive by deceit 27. Decomposed 34. Nail & hair protein 35. A citizen of Iran 36. Whitish edible root vegetable

37. Actress Winger 38. Lessens in intensity 39. Afrikaans 40. Connected spirals 41. Accordingly 42. Competently 43. Angle (abbr.)

CLUES DOWN

1. Clothes storage area 2. “__and her Sisters” 3. Revolve 4. One who makes puns 5. Inspire with love 6. Chronograph 7. Look over quickly 9. French philosopher Georges 10. A peerless example 12. Picture done in oils 14. To and ___ movement 15. Egg cells 17. Macaws 19. Nerve inflammation

20. Energy unit 23. Herbal infusions 24. Female deer 25. Before anything else 26. Cotangent (abbr.)

27. Run off the tracks 28. A small drink of liquor 29. Get free of 30. A sharp narrow mountain ridge 31. Knight’s tunic 32. Infuriate 33. Lines in a drama 34. Skewered meat 36. Ground dwelling rodent

Last Week’s Puzzle Solutions

Thursday, October 31, 2013

KiddKioer

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GAMES

The County Times

38

39

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Wanderings of anAimless

d

Min

Ah, A day for Lounging…Not!

By Shelby Oppermann Contributing Writer My plans for Monday the first day of retirement: Lounge in bed, rest my back from two weeks of moving, drink some tea, take Tidbit out, go back and lounge in bed, toast?, some mindless TV, lounge in bed, dinner, lounge in bed, Dancing With The Stars, bedtime.

Husband’s plans for my first day of retirement: Bring tea to me in bed, ask me what my plans are, finds out his helper can’t come in, can I help him closing three pools, tells me we have to leave in 15 minutes.

My new plans: What? I took my ZzzQuil at 4 in the morning, I’m still fuzzy headed. Drink two sips of tea, wash face, brush teeth and hair, hopefully with proper brushes, throw on work clothes, and rush out door.

Husband: This wasn’t what you had in mind for your first day of retirement, was it?

Me: No. But on the good side, Monday was one of those beautiful fall days you dream about; crisp, bright, and with lovely colorful leaves. The first pool had a beautifully landscaped back yard where I admired how large the Begonias were, and luckily the owner, April has her own pool store and helped with everything. I lucked out there. Unfortunately, I was not a good helper – still being fuzzy-headed and failed to pick up my husband’s knee pad when we left. Found out the importance of that later.

The next two pools were both on the water: one in Goose Bay and one in Leonardtown, and you could see a perfect reflection of everything on each body of water’s glass slick surface. I, of course took pictures, but continually asked my husband when he needed my help.

And I did work. Closing and putting covers on pools is hard work. I don’t know how he can close pools by himself when he has to do it. About the time that my husband was getting ready to put anchors in to stretch the cover across is when he also found out that the knee pad did not travel with us. Oops.

The third pool had such nice owners and dogs. I got lots of kisses from two of them – I mean the dogs.

We had a fine time talking and watching my husband work on the harder parts of stretching the pool cover to the pop up anchors. These are the ones where you take a hollow bar and snap the cable over the pop up. Scares me to death - my husband showed me an old scar on his forehead from the one time it didn’t go so easily.

I actually did a lot of work, and was dirty, sweaty, and had a few new callouses. I felt pretty proud of myself and figured well, he helps me so much that I can give him one day of really hard work, and then lounge for a little bit tomorrow (Tuesday morning) instead. But what is the first thing my husband asks me this morning: After you get done at the dentist, come on home and you can help me close another pool, then we’ll come home unload all the Halloween boxes from the shed and start on the Halloween trails. “What?!” I say, “This is retirement? I better go back to work!”

The County Times

The Weakest Link Laura Joyce Contributing Writer

As the traditional ghosts and goblins and this year’s trendy “undead” are out haunting our county tonight, I’m still trying to wrap my head around something truly scary that happened here last week. I’m not sure why I was—and still am—so surprised, since I’ve seen it happen time and time again. Maybe it’s because just when I think we’ve turned St. Mary’s County into a place where there’s zero tolerance for domestic violence, I’m reminded that we’re a chain that is only as strong as its weakest link.

The story has been in the news: on October 21, John Otha Dickens, Jr. beat up his girlfriend of three months. He was arrested and taken before a Court Commissioner, who instructed him to stay away from the woman and then released him on $7,500 bail. After posting the $750 that was required for his release, Dickens promptly returned to his girlfriend’s home, this time with a knife. Once there, he cut her child and an adult visiting the home before attacking his girlfriend again. When a deputy arrived he followed the trail of blood to an upstairs room, where Dickens didn’t stop his attack on the woman, despite orders to do so, until he was shot. Again he was arrested: after being briefly treated at the hospital, he again appeared before a Court Commissioner.

This time, bail was set at just $5,000. Thanks to a bondsman, Dickens posted bail and was again released. This all took place in less than 72 hours.

I can’t remember exactly what we did to express shock and disbelief and disgust before the fairly recent advent of the phrase, “Really? Really?” I suppose we shook our heads, rolled our eyes and made disapproving “Hmph” sounds.

I find the ‘Really? Really?’ phrase a lot more satisfying, though, and I’ve been using it a lot since last Tuesday, when I got the news that Dickens had been released for the second time, despite three 1st Degree Assault charges and three 2nd Degree Assault charges being filed against him. I spent several hours on the phone that night, tracking down the vic-

tim’s phone number and speaking to the detective handling the case and consulting with our advocates and attorneys at the Center for Family Advocacy about ways that we might help the victim stay safe. Not that I mind doing it—if you’re going to do this kind of work, you can’t look at the clock at 5:00 p.m., pack up your stuff, and demand that you be left alone until 9:00 a.m. rolls around. I mind it for a different reason entirely: Dickens should never have been released, and the victim should never have had to worry, after the assault she experienced (correction: the assaults) whether he might be released before the blood had dried on the carpeting, not to put too fine a point on things.

I hear a lot of things in this line of work that could make me walk around angry. I hear about women being beaten, children being cut, stalking and sexual violence and emotional abuse meant to degrade and destroy. Most days, though, I don’t go home mad; I go home with a sense that those of us doing this work are fighting a good fight, and while we’re not always winning, we’re making headway. We’re making a difference.

But this past week, I admit it: I’ve had a hard time seeing it quite that way. When Court Commissioners, public officials who are charged in part with protecting public safety, can’t be counted on to apply that requirement to one part of the population—women—it disturbs me. When they promptly release and re-release men who are charged with domestic violence as if they’ve had a temper tantrum rather than committed a criminal act it disheartens me. And when they treat domestic violence as a dust-up between lovers, something that requires no more than a slap on the wrist, it disgusts me.

Violence is violence, regardless of the gender of the victim or her relationship with the perpetrator. Domestic violence is dangerous, and it has a tendency to escalate when it is allowed to continue unchecked, until someone ends up dead. In order to short-circuit the cycle of violence, a strong criminal justice response is essential. It’s common sense. Really. Really.

I love hearing from you; feel free to contact me at thewordtech@md.metrocast.net if you have comments or questions about the column.

Vendor/Craft Sale Support GMHS Class of 2015 Cash & Carry Items will be available!!!

When: Saturday, Dec 7, 2013 Time: 8am – 4pm Where: Great Mills High Great Mills, MD

Find that special gif for everyone on your shopping list. Multiple Vendors and crafers all in one spot to make your shopping easier.

Reserve a table for $30 or two for $50 Yard Sale tables available as well No duplicate vendors and only one product line per table.

To each new day’s adventure, Shelby Please send your comments or ideas to: shelbys.wanderings@ yahoo.com or find me on facebook: Shelby Oppermann

All Proceeds to benefit GMHS class of 2015; Donations will be accepted

Table Reservations: cathypulliam72@gmail.com or 301-481-1431

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YOUR

The County Times

Thursday, October 31, 2013

TANK TO TANKLESS!

40

Call us today for a free estimate on converting your hot water system to a more efficient tankless system.

Mention our ad and receive a $500.00 discount on the unit and installation.

STEP 4

STEP 2

STEP 1

A hot water tap is turned on.

Cold water enters the heater & the flow sensor detects the water flow.

STEP 3

The computer automatically ignites the burner.

Water circulates through the heat exchanger.

The burner heats the water to the designated temperature.

HOW DOES A TANKLESS WORK? The obvious difference between a tank and a tankless is its size.

Not only will you gain significant space, but you’ll also get endless hot water with a tankless.

Noritz tankless water heaters last longer than traditional tank water heaters and are backed up with a 12-year warranty.

STEP 5

With a tankless, you won’t be using hot water that is stored in a tank that can accumulate scale and rust over time. Noritz units allow you to set the temperature you want.

The Noritz tankless water heater provides an endless stream of hot water. When the tap is turned off, the unit shuts off.

SPACE SAVING CALCULATION A traditional tank-type water heater takes up to 13 ft2 of space. If 1 ft2 is worth $200, that’s $2,600 (13 ft2 x $200) worth of space you could be saving at Noritz. * Installation must conform with local codes, or in the absence of local codes, the National Fuel Gas Code, ANSI Z223. 1/NFPA 54.

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