The Southern Calvert Gazette -- January 7, 2010

SMECO Reducing Energy Charges

2010 Brings New Handgun Safety Regs

What is Happening to Drum Point?

Southern Calvert

Everything Solomons, Lusby, Dowell, and St. LeonardEverything Solomons, Lusby, Dowell, and St. Leonard

January 2010

Priceless Southern Calvert

PAGE 12Story Page 5

Story Page 11

Story Page 4MovinG ThE Goods

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Photo by Sean Rice

Thursday, January-20102

Your Paper... Your Thoughts

Do you set New Year’s resolu-tions, and do you keep them?

“I don’t do New Year’s resolutions because I found that I never kept them,’ says Sherry Reid, of Lusby. “So on Martin Luther King Day I change whatever it is I want to change. I quit smoking that day, and last year I started my diet on Martin Luther King Day. And this year I’ll go back to more ex-ercise,” she said. “That’s an-other reason, because it’s always a Monday.”

“I generally do set a New Year’s resolution, but not in the usual sense that people do,” said Cody Coppins, of Lusby. “My New Year’s resolution is the same one every year, because it’s one that doesn’t end. Each year I want to do something that I haven’t done in previous years,” he

said. In the past, for Cody, it’s been taking up meditation and

the Buddhist philosophy and writing a novel. “I have no idea what it’s going to be this year.”

Emily Moore, 11, of Bel Air, is April’s Goddaughter, and she is setting her first New Year’s resolution. “I have this club that I want to start getting out there and it’s called the A and C Horse Club” aimed at caring for and preventing abuse of horses. She is spreading the news on Face-book.

“Yes I do keep New Year’s resolutions. This year I have

my own company, A & D photography and I want to get more business this year,” said April Bowles, of Prince Frederick. “So I’d

like to shoot more weddings this

year.”

Thursday, January-2010 3

High and

Low Tides

Day High Tide Height Sunrise Moon Time % Moon /Low Time Feet Sunset Visibl

F 15 High 1:28 AM 0.6 7:21 AM Rise 7:32 AM 0 15 Low 7:30 AM -0.3 5:09 PM Set 5:42 PM 15 High 2:29 PM 1.2 15 Low 9:11 PM 0.0

Sa 16 High 2:11 AM 0.7 7:21 AM Rise 8:02 AM 0 16 Low 8:11 AM -0.3 5:10 PM Set 6:41 PM 16 High 3:02 PM 1.2 16 Low 9:40 PM 0.0

Su 17 High 2:52 AM 0.7 7:21 AM Rise 8:29 AM 2 17 Low 8:50 AM -0.3 5:12 PM Set 7:39 PM 17 High 3:33 PM 1.2 17 Low 10:08 PM 0.0

Day High Tide Height Sunrise Moon Time % Moon /Low Time Feet Sunset Visibl

F 8 Low 1:55 AM -0.4 7:23 AM Rise 1:23 AM 45 8 High 8:34 AM 1.2 5:02 PM Set 11:54 AM 8 Low 3:25 PM 0.1 8 High 8:16 PM 0.7

Sa 9 Low 2:43 AM -0.4 7:23 AM Rise 2:29 AM 34 9 High 9:40 AM 1.3 5:03 PM Set 12:29 PM 9 Low 4:37 PM 0.1 9 High 9:12 PM 0.6

Su 10 Low 3:33 AM -0.4 7:23 AM Rise 3:33 AM 25 10 High 10:43 AM 1.3 5:04 PM Set 1:09 PM 10 Low 5:40 PM 0.1 10 High 10:09 PM 0.6

January 8-10 2010

January 15-17 2010

Also Inside

On The Cover

4 Local News

7 Delegate Column

8 Community

10 Education

11 Letters

12 Cover Story

14 Home

15 Style

17 Obituaries

18 Business Directory

19 Out & About

20 Defense

22 Entertainment

23 On The Water

militaryout & about

FOR EVENTS HAPPENING IN YOUR AREA, CHECK PAGE 19 IN OUT AND ABOUT

Local news

Chris LeGrand as Mick Jagger, left, and Jim Riddick as Keith Richards perform as “‘Satisfaction’ The International Rolling Stones Show” The band is coming to Calvert Marine Museum on Jan. 15. SEE PAGE 9

The Calvert County Board of Commissioners got a surprise visit from Santa Claus as the board started its regular meeting on Dec. 22. SEE PAGE 6

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Rick West conducts a Defense Connect Online meeting with senior leadership during a working lunch while on travel visiting Sailors at Naval Air Station Lemoore. SEE PAGE 20

Marilyn Sprouse, a volunteer for two years, heaves a bag of clothing that she finished sorting in SMILE’s receiving station.

“I generally do set a New Year’s resolution, but not in the usual sense that people do,” said Cody Coppins, of Lusby. “My New Year’s resolution is the same one every year, because it’s one that doesn’t end. Each year I want to do something that I haven’t done in previous years,” he

said. In the past, for Cody, it’s been taking up meditation and

the Buddhist philosophy and writing a novel. “I have no idea what it’s going to be this year.”

“Yes I do keep New Year’s resolutions. This year I have

my own company, A & D photography and I want to get more business this year,” said April Bowles, of Prince Frederick. “So I’d

like to shoot more weddings this

year.”


LOCALNEWS

For Farmers, Life to Get Tougher After Tobacco Buyout

Starting this month, the first of the state’s farmers who took part in the tobacco buyout of 2001 will get their last check from the state.

Some farmers say that they are not looking forward to life after that money, which was designed to get them to stop growing the plant and transition to other produce, goes away.

Other farmers who signed on for the program after 2001 will continue to get annual checks until 2015 but by then the money is gone for good.

“It’ll hurt,” said Mike Russell, a local farmer who also works for the Soil Conservation District office. “That was like a loan to the farmers once a year.”

“Some of them have been using it to keep their agriculture production going.”Russell said he had used the money to buy new farming equipment and storage fa-

cilities and he used the funds to transition to growing vegetables, which he said can be as profitable as tobacco.

Many of the farmers who took the buyout cash offer were in their late 50s back in 2001, 10 years on now, agriculture officials say that many are nearing retirement age and have family who aren’t willing to go into farming.

That leaves few options: either cut back on the farm production or sell the farm outright in most cases.

Donna Sasscer, agriculture preservation coordinator with St. Mary’s County, said that lately she has received a steady string of phone calls from family members of aging farmers who are looking to find state money for agriculture preservation of their family land.

But there’s none to be had, Sasscer said.“It’s been giving the elderly an income,” Sasscer said of the buyout cash for the past de-

cade. “People don’t want to sell to a developer but that may be the only option they have.”There is still slim hope, though, through the Southern Maryland Agricultural Devel-

opment Commission, said Christine Bergmark, who oversees that part of the Tri-County Council of Southern Maryland.

There is just $2.7 million available for agricultural land preservation across five coun-ties, St. Mary’s, Charles, Calvert, Anne Arundel and Prince George’s for fiscal 2010.

That cash available for farmers isn’t much, she said, but it is at least something. Berg-mark said the buyout money was designed to help farmers transition and stay in the agri-culture business.

“Some did and some didn’t,” Bergmark said. “They may be compelled to sell their land.”

The check that each farmer received from the buyout was based on the average price they got per pound of tobacco produced in 1996, 1997 and 1998, Bergmark said.

BY GUY LEONARD (CT) [email protected]

Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative is filing an application with the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) to reduce its energy charges.

SMECO is filing to reduce the residential winter energy charge from 11.24 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 9.11 cents per kWh, a reduction of almost 19 percent. Winter energy charges appear on bills rendered November through May. Residential energy charges for summer will decrease from 12.59 cents per kWh to 9.75 cents per kWh, a reduc-tion of 22 percent. If approved by the PSC, the reduced charge will appear on customer-members’ March 2010 bills.

“Electricity prices decreased this year because of the mild weather. The weather affects demand for energy, and lower demand results in reduced prices,” Sonja Cox, SMECO’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, said in a press release.

According to Cox, commodity prices for energy were lower this summer than they were in the summer of 2008. She added that natural gas prices dropped from $13 per million British thermal units (BTUs) in 2008 to $3 per million BTUs in 2009.

SMECO’s new rates are based on forecasted power costs for March 2010 to Feb-ruary 2011, which are estimat-ed to be $87.93 per megawatt-hour (MWh) for wholesale power supply. This cost is 16 percent less than the estimat-ed costs the co-op submitted in its last filing in August 2008.

According to Cox, SMECO does not mark up or make a profit on energy charges. The co-op also uses a portfolio approach to purchasing power, using long-term and short-term contracts and contracts for base load and peak load.

“Our portfolio of power supply agreements reduces the swings in energy prices and helps to save money for our customer-members overall,” Cox said.

BY SEAN RICE (SCG) [email protected]

SMECO Files to Reduce Energy Charges Calvert County Health Department reports that it will have both H1N1 (swine) flu and Seasonal flu vaccines available for the January 14, 2010 clinic at the Huntingtown High School. The limited supply of vaccines will be provided to

everyone on a first come, first serve basis.The Health Department reminds everyone that it is still important that all persons in

the five target groups continue to get vaccinated as they have an increased risk of complica-tions from the virus.

The January 14th clinic will run from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm. For more information, visit www.calverthealth.org.

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By Gerald “Jerry” Clark, County Commissioner, District 1

The Promise of a Prosperous New Year

As another year comes to a close it is customary to spend a few moments reflecting on what we have ac-complished in the previous 12 months and what we

hope to achieve over the next 12. Most will agree that 2009 was a particularly difficult year in terms of the economy and how our na-tional, state, local and even personal budgets fared. In Maryland, the Governor spent nearly all year trying to close enormous bud-get gaps and finished the year with more than $1 billion in spend-ing reductions. As state unemployment rates edged up throughout the year, spending naturally decreased and consumer confidence plummeted. It was a very difficult year – both for consumers and for merchants.

However, economic experts say that the tide is slowly begin-ning to change. Americans appear to be shopping once again, new housing starts have increased, the Consumer Price Index has edged up and, while Maryland’s unemployment rate increased slightly to 7.3 percent in November (from 7.2 percent in October), it is still well below the national average of 10.0 percent.

While there doesn’t seem to be a shining beacon on the hori-zon just yet, there are a few bright spots in the economy that can give us hope that a recovery may well be underway for 2010.

But now is not the time to become overly enthusiastic or careless in our planning or spending. While a recovery may be looming and we may soon, and hopefully, be on the other side of the recession, it is important that we maintain a sense of fiscal responsibility and remain cautiously optimistic. As vice president of the Calvert County Board of County Commissioners, I have been careful to question every tax dollar that we spend on behalf of our citizens and this is a habit that I will continue. I am proud to say that our Board and Department of Finance and Budget have employed very conservative fiscal policies over the years resulting in our ability to maintain one of the highest levels of public service and safety for our citizens this year – without increasing taxes, eliminating programs, cutting jobs or furloughing employees like many other counties have been forced to do.

As I welcome the New Year, I will take stock of the accom-plishments we have achieved during this difficult year and think ahead optimistically toward a brighter and much more prosperous 2010. That is something that I wish for us all.

Maryland residents who want to buy a handgun or other fire-arms at their local gun shops are no longer able to watch a simple video provided by that shop or other firearms

advocacy group that satisfies safety course requirements, according to information from the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Cor-rectional Services.

The system will instead turn to an on-line, Internet-based firearms safety training video that is free to the public, but the video training at a gun shop is no longer accepted.

Tommy Bennett, owner of Southern Maryland Firearms near Leon-ardtown, said that the process might actually serve to ease the tasks that shop owners have to perform.

Many are already laden with complex forms they have to fill out with every firearms purchase that must be properly filed and catalogued with the state.

“It was a pain,” Bennett said of the video he had to show and the forms he had to fill out. “It’s something else I don’t have to do.”

Raymond Franklin, acting executive director of the Police and Cor-rectional Training Commission, said that residents who have already taken the safety course on video would still have valid cards and num-bers signifying they had successfully completed the test.

The on-line service, which has actually been available for several years, is free and available to everyone on the Internet, he said.

“It was a major improvement and it’s been very successful,” Frank-lin told The Southern Calvert Gazette.

The decision to do away with the training in shops was also an economic one, Franklin said, since the state had to spend money to file all of the paper work the dealers sent in as well as pay to send people out to destinations to give the training on occasion, which was just to show a safety video.

Now the on-line service will alert the state database that the user has completed the training and will even produce a card that they can print out as a certification, Franklin said.

“It’s an excellent example of distance learning,” Franklin said.Those who are retired or honorably discharged from the military

are exempt from the requirement, as are law enforcement officers, hold-ers of concealed carry permits, those who have completed a hunter safe-ty course and those who have completed a National Rifle Association basic firearm safety course since Jan. 1, 2004, with the card signed by a state police official for tracking purposes.


2010 Brings Changes In Handgun Safety Regs

The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners scheduled a public information meeting on the Mary-land Critical Area Act from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Jan. 12, at the

Calvert Pines Senior Center.Staff members of the Maryland Critical Area Commission will

review state Critical Area programs and give information to the County Commissioners, the Calvert County Planning Commission and interested citizens on changes to the state law that have occurred over the past two years.

The meeting will also address topics raised at a Nov. 3, public hearing held to adopt the environmental regulation and map changes

to the Calvert County Zoning Ordinance.The Critical Area Act was passed in 1984 to confront the im-

pacts of land development on habitat and aquatic resources. The law defines the Critical Area as all land within 1,000 feet of tidal waters and tidal wetlands of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

The Calvert Pines Senior Center is located at 450 West Dares Beach Road in Prince Frederick. For further information, contact the Calvert County Department of Planning and Zoning at (410) 535-2348. BY SEAN RICE (SCG) [email protected]

Calvert County to Host Critical Area Information Meeting

3 Unlocked Cars BurgledSometime between Dec. 31, 2009

and Jan. 2, 2010 unknown suspects en-tered three vehicles belonging to two victims on Independence Drive in Port Republic. Two Garmin GPS units, together valued at $480 and a brown leather purse were stolen from inside the three unlocked vehicles. Dep. Norton is continuing the investigation.

Man Charged for Pill Possession

Calvert County Sheriff’s Deputy Roscoe Kreps conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on Dec. 28 at 1:47 a.m. near the St. Leonard Fastop. The passenger in the vehicle, later identified as Lentwane Sharmone Hall, Sr., 27 of Huntingtown, originally gave Dep. Kreps a false name. He was subsequently found to be in pos-session of suspected drugs. Hall was ar-rested and charged with possession of a schedule IV drug, Clonazepam, and possession with intent to use drug para-phernalia, a red pill grinder with white residue, used to prepare Percocet.

Golf Course TrashedUnknown suspects caused $1000

in damage to the fairway at Chesa-peake Hills Golf Course in Lusby be-tween Dec. 19 and 26. Calvert County Sheriff’s Deputy Stephen Esposito is investigating.

Oxycontin Possession Charged

On Dec. 24 at 12:16 a.m. Dep. James Norton conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in front of a home on Long Beach Road in St. Leonard. The driver, later identified as Arthur Harry Perry, Jr., 32 of Port Republic, was found to be in possession of suspected drugs. He was arrested and charged with posses-sion of a schedule II drug, Oxycodone, possession of a schedule II drug, Oxy-contin, and unlawfully removing a label on a prescription drug as required by Federal/State/Local law.

Driver Arrested for DUI and Marijuana

On Dec. 23 at 1:35 a.m. after con-ducting a traffic stop at Abigail Court and Whispering Drive in Prince Freder-ick, Dep. James Norton found the driver, later identified as Eli Matthew Arthur Blush, 20 of St. Leonard, to be driving under the influence of alcohol and to be in possession of suspected drugs. Blush was charged with DUI and possession of marijuana and possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia, a silver canister used to store marijuana.

Lisa Batchelor Frailey and her hus-band Andy Batchelor, proprietors of Sail Solomons, an American

Sailing Association (ASA) accredited sail-ing school and sailboat charter fleet located in Solomons, were recently each awarded as Outstanding Instructors for 2009 by the ASA.

Sail Solomons was also awarded as an ASA Outstanding School for 2009, an award

the school also received in 2008.The awards are based on student surveys

which address numerous aspects about the school, program and individual instructors.

Lisa and Andy Batchelor are currently in the Virgin Islands providing sailing in-struction and charters aboard their sailing yacht Zingaro, reports Sail Solomons In-structor Charlie Schmitz.

“For our part, we’re very glad that our

efforts to provide exceptional instruction have been noted, and we appreciate that our students took the time to recognize our ef-forts in the surveys,” said Schmitz.

Sail Solomons is a member of the Solo-mons Business Association and Lisa is on the board of directors. The Sail Solomons web site is www.sailsi.com.

BY SEAN RICE (SCG) [email protected].

Sail Solomons Owners Receive National Awards


LOCALNEWS

A federal mandate now requires that vir-tually every angler in Maryland has to register with NOAA (National Ocean-

ographic and Atmospheric Administration).Officials with the state Department of Natural

Resources say that the new mandate helps replace an old system of cataloguing the activity of fisher-men that had become inadequate.

“Anybody that fishes in tidal waters will be required to register,” said Marty Guy, an official with Maryland fisheries about the National Salt-water Angler Registry.

The waters of Maryland that are included are the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries as well as territorial waters out to three miles off the coast that are the province of the state.

The regulations also extend to 200 miles out in federal waters off of Maryland’s shore, Guy said.

The old system of cataloging the activity of anglers was a telephone system that called people who lived near tidal waters to find out how much fishing they were doing, the problem was that not all of the people who were contacted were anglers.

This system should be more reliable, Guy said, and would allow for more accurate counts of

how much and what kind of fish were being taken out of local waters.

“They’re really important, these estimates re-late to the allowable harvest,” Guy said. “The old system didn’t do a very good job… now you can query those folks [registered anglers] by phone or by mail and find out how many fish they caught.”

There are some exemptions to the new federal mandate, Guy said, including anglers under the age of 16 and anyone who is fishing aboard a charter boat, because captains of the vessels are required to keep an accurate count of harvested fish.

Anglers can register over the Internet, Guy said. The Web site for information on the program is www.countmyfish.noaa.gov.

Scott McGuire, president of the Patuxent River Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Asso-ciation said that the registry change would allow for better conservation through better information gathering.

“They only have to register when they get a license,” McGuire said. “I think it’s great, it’s go-ing to allow fisheries managers to get information from people who actually fish.

“It’s an accurate representation of what people are actually catching.”


Anglers Now Have to Register With Feds


A new Doctorate in Information Assur-ance is coming to the Southern Mary-land Higher Education Center in Cali-

fornia from Capitol College.This program meets the demand for advanced

education in Information Assurance (IA) at the doctoral level, the Higher Education Center report-ed in a press release. Studies conducted over sever-al years corroborate the need to advance the study of information and cyber security and justify the offering of a program of study leading to a terminal degree, the Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Informa-tion Assurance. Capitol College already offers a Masters in Information Assurance at SMHEC.

President Barack Obama said in a speech on cyber security that the U.S. has reached a “transformational moment” when com-puter networks are probed and attacked millions of times a day. “It’s now clear

this cyber threat is one of the most se-rious economic and national security challenges we face as a nation … We’re not as prepared as we should be.”

In mid-2009, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates an-nounced the establishment of a new unified command entitled “Cybercom” to be located at Fort Meade, say-ing: “Cyberspace and its as-

sociated technologies … are vital to our nation’s security and, by extension, to all aspects of mili-tary operations … Yet our increasing dependency on cyberspace, alongside a growing array of cyber threats and vulnerabilities, adds a new element of risk to our national security.”

The U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, 2006-2007 Occupational Outlook Handbook, states that: “Computer scientists and database ad-ministrators are expected to be among the fastest growing occupations through 2014.

The demand for these skills is remarkable. The Washington Post online classified ads for jobs re-vealed 10,367 IA related jobs, of which 2,901 were in Southern Maryland, and this list does not count all other job openings posted elsewhere online.

The geographic proximity of Southern Mary-land to the D.C. Metropolitan Area gives the pro-posed D.Sc. program a substantial advantage. Substantial academic resources can be brought to bear to aid and assist local doctoral candidates who choose particular dissertation topics, such as computer forensics (law enforcement) and wireless computing security.

For more information on the Information As-surance programs at SMHEC from Capitol College call Mr. Andrew Mehri at 301-369-2800 ext. 3611. Students can also check www.capitol-college.edu/ or www.smhec.org. The D.Sc. in Information As-surance program will be located at SMHEC at 44219 Airport Road, California.

Doctorate In IA Coming To Higher Ed Center

The following real estate transactions for home sales were re-corded recently and are on file at the Calvert County Circuit Court:

• Shane and Donna DeNinno purchased 456 Windmill Drive, St. Leonard, for $444,000 from Michael and Rachel Johnson. A mort-gage was secured from Navy Federal Credit Union in the amount of $360,517.

• Michael and Tina O’Mealy purchased 2862 Ivory Lane, Port Re-public, in the Island Creek Woods subdivision for $400,000 from Imants and Eileen Krauze. A mortgage was secured from George Mason Mort-gage in the amount of $320,000.

• Robert and Christina Watson purchased 461 Chestnut Drive, Lus-by, in the Drum Point subdivision from Fulton Bank for $212,000. A first-time buyer affidavit was filed. A mortgage was secured from First Home Mortgage Corp. in the amount of $216,326.

• Edward S. Harvey purchased 1096 Hobbs Court, Lusby, in the Chesapeake Ranch Estates, from Fannie Mae for $105,000. No mort-gage was recorded.

• William J. Simpson purchased 11325 Commanche Road, Lusby, in the Chesapeake Ranch Estates for $292,000 from Johnny Elaine Witt. A first-time buyer affidavit was filed. A mortgage was secured from Union Mortgage Group in the amount of $301,636.

• John W. and Dona E. Sutton purchased 2107 Dasher Drive, Lus-by, in Cove Point Woods, for $349,000 from Brian E. and Deborah A. Weber. A mortgage was secured from George Mason Mortgage in the amount of $360,517.

• James G. Vaughan purchased 232 Thunderbird Drive, Lusby, in the Chesapeake Ranch Estates, for $200,000 from Mark and Judy Szyn-borski. A first-time buyer affidavit was filed. A mortgage was secured from Bank of America in the amount of $196,377.

Southern Calvert Real Estate Transactions

He came to find out who is naughty and a nice. The Calvert County Board of Com-missioners got a surprise visit from Santa Claus as the board started its regular

meeting on Dec. 22. Commissioner Jerry Clark is shown sitting on Santa’s lap while commissioners Linda Kelley, left, and Susan Shaw look on.

Photo courtesy of Calvert County Government

A Visit from Kris Kringle


If you will recall last year when the first so-called federal stimulus bill was being talked about, much of

the discussion centered around jump start-ing the economy by funding with taxpayer dollars what were referred to as “shovel ready” projects. The theory was that this effort would serve to put Americans back to work and was sold at the time as the remedy which would keep the national unemployment average below 8%. As we now know, very few private sector jobs were actually created by spending these hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars. There are a great number of jobs which were supposedly “saved or created” which have been shown to be fictitious or shear fabrications. The national unemployment rate blew right through 8% and is right now at the double digit level.

I heard one political pundit say recent-ly something akin to this, “The only sub-stantial “shovel ready” projects that were funded by the original bailout billions was the federal tax dollar trucks backing up to the state coffers to shovel monies into the state government’s treasuries to fund even more government spending at the state level”. Many of us believe that instead of funding the creation of private sector jobs to get our economy rolling again, the main focus of the money from our rich old Uncle Sam was to bailout the unbridled spend-ing habits of state governments across the country that did not have the political wherewithal to reign in state spending.

Here in Maryland, one of the wealthi-est state’s per capita in the entire coun-try and whose unemployment rates have tracked 2 to 3 points below the national av-erage during this entire economic down-turn, we received big sums of bailout loot. Maryland received about $4 billion for its budget in federal government largess to use over a two year cycle. The greatest pro-portion of this money did not go to shovel ready projects to create new private sector jobs, but it did go to maintain and increase the state’s funding of existing programs. Most of the money went to funding educa-tion and social welfare healthcare entitle-ments. This created a lot of talk at the top

of Maryland’s state government about how much was actually cut from our budget, but as I have said before, there has actually been little to no state spending reductions. All that was really done was the spending increases continued and were paid for in large part by federal stimulus bailouts and state tax increases.

Although these federal outlays may have been well intentioned, in my opin-ion they only serve to remove the pressure from state governments to do what they should be doing in these tough economic times. That is to reign in the spending to a level that can be supported and sustained over the long run by the taxpayers. We should also be focused on creating a friend-ly business environment in Maryland to encourage small businesses to flourish and medium and large size businesses to want to locate their companies here. In-stead, through tax policy and regulatory hostility, Maryland’s state government seems to want to dampen private sector job creation and economic development.

It appears the state continues to produce disincentives for companies that may be considering moving or expanding their operations here. If Maryland really wants to create a thriving business economy, we surely won’t do it by keeping our hands out to Uncle Sam and pushing real job cre-ators from our state. When we create a booming business climate, the revenues to the state will increase and the need to raise more taxes would be diminished.

Now we are hearing more talk from federal and state leaders about the need for a second round of “stimulus” spending. This is exactly the wrong prescription for Maryland’s long term fiscal health. Don’t forget that this money from the federal government is not free, but must be repaid by taxpayers. That is you and I and our children and our grandchildren. I believe it is fiscally imprudent and socially irre-sponsible to continue to spend the monies of future generations. Under current esti-mates, the federal government is expected to increase the national debt by over a TRILLION DOLLARS each and every year for the next 10 years.

This type of spending is out of con-trol, is not sustainable, and should stop now. The only way Maryland’s current leaders will see this as an important con-sideration is to hear from the citizens in large numbers. Please help me in calling for the rejection of any additional federal “stimulus” bailouts for Maryland. Let our leaders know that you don’t appreciate them continuing to spend our children’s and grandchildren’s futures without giv-ing proper attention to fixing the private sector economy and helping to create real jobs. Tell them they must reign in state spending and to stop raising our taxes ei-ther this year or the years after they are re-elected.

As always, feel free to contact my local legislative office at (410) 326-0081 or email at [email protected] with questions, comments or concerns regarding these items or other matters.

State Bailouts by Uncle Sam

Guest EditorialBy Marc Kilmer

We are only a week away from anoth-er session of the Maryland General Assem-bly. As government spending continues to exceed revenue, once again Maryland poli-cymakers will debate how to close a deficit of billions of dollars.

The state’s spending problems will get even worse, however, if health care “re-form” is enacted in Washington, D.C. The legislation currently under consideration in Washington will be bad news for Mary-land’s taxpayers.

One of the reasons Maryland faces a continuing deficit is the growth in the state’s medical assistance programs, such as Medicaid and the Maryland Children’s Health Program. The federal government picks up a portion of these programs’ cost, but state taxpayers still foot much of the bill.

Over the last nine years, the amount of money Maryland taxpayers have spent on these programs has grown by 64 percent.

Expanded eligibility and benefitsThis increased spending is partly a

result of worsening economic conditions. Much of the new spending, though, results from the state’s continual expansion of people who are eligible for the programs and what services the programs cover.

This approach may seem like a good idea when the economy is good, but when recession hits, tax revenue dries up and more people want government coverage.

In Washington, the rationale behind health care reform legislation is that it will help control the growth in health care spending. But provisions of legislation be-ing considered by both the House and Sen-ate would only increase states’ Medicaid spending.

These bills mandate expanding Med-icaid services to childless adults, a move that could bring hundreds of thousands onto Maryland’s Medicaid rolls.

A new influx of Medicaid recipients could mean a significant new burden on the state’s taxpayers. Just how much is un-known. The proposed federal legislation

says the federal government will pick up most of the cost, but it does not specify for how long.

The drive to reduce the legislation’s price tag likely means this federal cost-sharing will be significantly reduced.

A bipartisan group of governors has sounded the alarm over this potentially budget-busting Medicaid expansion. Gov. Martin O’Malley, however, has contin-ued to be a cheerleader for these federal efforts.

Tough choices lie aheadIn dealing with previous years’ defi-

cits, O’Malley and legislators have used all the budget tricks and accounting gim-micks available. There is a looming deficit next year, potentially reaching $3 billion. Adding a federally mandated Medicaid ex-pansion on top of this will mean Annapolis must choose between real spending cuts or even higher taxes.

If our legislators decided to try and cut the budget, another provision in the federal legislation mandates that states cannot re-duce Medicaid eligibility or services. That would put 17 percent of the state’s budget off-limits during efforts to close a deficit.

Couple that with the political and legal impracticality of cutting education spending and there is not much left in the budget to trim. You don’t need to be a psy-chic to see new taxes for Marylanders in the future.

Maryland’s taxpayers are already reel-ing under record-setting tax hikes from the 2007 special session that were supposed to solve the state deficit. Politicians in An-napolis continue to spend, however, and politicians in Washington are on the verge of adding to the state’s budget troubles.

If politicians expand government health care programs, someone will have to pay for it.

The state’s taxpayers are once again a very convenient target.

Marc Kilmer is a senior fellow at the Maryland Public Policy Institute, a pub-lic policy think tank based in Rockville. He can be reached at [email protected].

Health Care Reform Demands New Strategies

PRINCE FREDERICK (AP) — George W. Owings III, a former state dele-gate who served in Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich’s administration announced that he will challenge Gov. Martin O’Malley in the Democratic gubernatorial primary.

Owings made it official at a news con-ference at the courthouse steps in Prince

Frederick on Wednesday.The former majority whip served as

secretary of veterans affairs under Ehrlich. He has been a sharp critic of O’Malley’s fis-cal policies, disagreeing with O’Malley’s decision to raise the sales tax during a 2007 special session.

Owings Announces Run for Governor


The Friends of Calvert Library are hosting their fourth annual Books & Bubbly event from 7-9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 29, at the Calvert Li-brary Prince Frederick.

Enjoy an elegant evening with delicious food, fun music and great friends. Toast the Friends, the Calvert Library and the New Year with bub-bly and other libations. Live music will be provided by the ever-popular All Saints House Band—excellent for dancing! There will be door prizes and a general good time.

The Friends of Calvert Library are a non-profit group dedicated to fundraising to provide “the cream” for the essential “coffee” that is the library, Robyn Truslow, Public Re-lations Coordinator for the library said in a press release.

Recently, grant funding for Teen and Tween Nights became un-

available so the Friends picked up the slack by paying for the movie licensing, pizzas and drinks. The Friends have purchased such items as digital cameras, color printers, and clipart subscriptions to improve the quality of library print materials. They also provide funding for pro-grams like Kids Just Want to Have Fun, Craft Night and Gingerbread House. Most of their fundrais-ing is done through book sales, but also membership dues and events such as Books and Bubbly also provide funding.

So join the Friends ei-ther as a member or just for the night at Books & Bubbly. Tickets are only $25 and are available at all Calvert Li-brary locations. For more information, call 410-535-0291 or 301-855-1862.

Master Gardener Training ComingCalvert Hospice Seeks Volunteers

Are you interested in gardening or cooking or watching things grow? Would you like to spend time with other young-sters who share your interests? Then there is a great opportu-nity for you in Calvert County 4-H.

All kids, ages 8-18, are invited to be part of a new 4-H club that will be starting in January. Join in on the fun with projects that cover the territory from “dirt to dinner.”

Aspects that the club will undertake include planting and growing crops, harvesting them, preparing and cook-ing the crops, serving food, canning & preserving, and experimenting.

You don’t have to be a farm kid to be a 4-H member. There’s something in 4-H for everyone, and it’s an equal op-portunity organization open to all youth!

The club will have their first meeting on Jan. 7, at 6:30 PM, at Calvert’s University of Maryland Extension Office. The UM Extension Office is at 30 Duke Street, Prince Frederick.

For more information on the 4-H Club forming in January, contact Dee Hardesty, at 443-532-5228 or via email at [email protected].

The National Active and Retired Federal Em-ployees Association (NARFE), Calvert County Chap-ter 1466, will meet at 1 pm on Thursday Jan 21 at the Calvert Pines Community Center, West Dares Beach Rd. Prince Frederick.

There will be a program or guest speaker of inter-est followed by a short business meeting. Also, join us for an early lunch at 11:30, this month at Mama Lucia’s in Prince Frederick.

Current and retired Federal employees, members, non-members and guests are welcome. Contact Roger Cronshey at (410) 535-4576 for more information on the meeting or for NARFE membership.

Calvert Hospice is seeking volunteers to help care for and support patients and their families, assist with bereavement programs, volunteer in the office, and lend a hand with special projects and events.

To join the Calvert Hospice team -- register for the next volunteer training session, beginning Jan. 23.

The 33-hour training first meets in an all day session on Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., then each Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., concluding March 24. All sessions are held at the Calvert Hospice office located at 238 Merrimac Court in Prince Frederick.

Sessions, lead by Hospice team members and experts from the community cover topics that will not only assist you as a Hospice volunteer, but will also provide you with skills useful in everyday life.

Volunteers report that their Hospice work benefits them as much or more than the gifts they provide to those served by Hospice. If you are looking for a way to “give back” and receive enormous rewards in return, contact Ann Lavezzo, Director of Volunteers, at 410-535-0892 or 301-855-1226. Visit www.calverthospice.org for more information.

The Calvert County office of the University of Maryland Extension will be offering Master Garden-er training in March and April.

Master Gardener trainees (also known as in-terns) will be screened and interviewed before being accepted into the program.

Once they complete the course and final exam with a passing score, they must provide 40 hours of volunteer service to the program within 12 months to be certified as a Master Gardener.

It is the policy of the University of Maryland Ex-tension that no person shall be subjected to discrimi-nation on the grounds of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital sta-

tus, or disability.Classes will be held Tuesday and Thursday eve-

nings, March 2 – April 8, from 6:15 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. at Community Resources Building, 30 Duke Street, Room 105, Prince Frederick, MD 20678. Two Sat-urday field trips are also planned. The cost is $150 which includes a Maryland Master Gardener Hand-book and other materials needed to teach the course.

If you have a disability that requires special as-sistance for your participation, please contact us. For more information, call University of Maryland Ex-tension at 410-535-3662 or 301-855-1150. Class size is limited and the deadline to register is Feb. 19.

Local citizens can still claim vouchers for free or low-cost technology training and certification testing made available by Microsoft Corp. and the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation but need to act before Jan. 12.

“Thanks to Microsoft Corporation’s gener-osity, the ‘Elevate America’ partnership offers an opportunity for Marylanders to get general and ad-vanced skills in Microsoft programs in a matter of weeks, or obtain Microsoft IT certification,” DLLR Secretary Alexander M. Sanchez said in a press re-lease. “We know this has already changed lives by helping people from unemployment or low-wage jobs elevate themselves into stable career fields.”

In Calvert County, vouchers are being distrib-uted in the state’s One-Stop Career Centers and Calvert Library Prince Frederick. Courses range from basic technology literacy to intermediate-level technology skills. A portion of the vouchers will be issued to Maryland residents for Microsoft Certification Exams all at no cost to the recipient.

To date, more than 4,116 E-Learning training

vouchers and 547 Exam certification vouchers have been issued throughout the state, leaving 3,384 E-Learning training vouchers and more than 5,000 exam certification vouchers still available to the citizens of Maryland.

E-learning training courses may be taken at no cost; users receive a paper confirmation when they complete a course. Certification testing is free at some centers but proctor fees may be charged at others.

Microsoft E-Learning training vouchers can be issued as late as Jan. 12, but won’t expire for one year after activation. Microsoft Test Exam vouch-ers must be distributed and used by Jan. 12.

One need not be unemployed to receive the vouchers.

For additional information regarding where you can obtain a voucher, visit the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation website at: www.dllr.state.md.us and click on the Elevate America button on the home page. By Sean Rice (ScG) info@

somdpublishing.net

Free Microsoft Training Vouchers Available

Do you have a love of gardening and want to share with others?

‘Books & Bubbly’

NARFE Meeting

New 4-H Club Forming

Piano Competition Deadline Approaching


By Joyce BakiHappy New Year! Are your holiday decorations down and stored away? Don’t feel

bad if they are not, my husband is used to the Christmas tree still in the living room in Feb-ruary. There is so much to do in January that there just is not time to take it down!

Did you make a New Year’s resolution? I am determined to get fit. If I lose a few pounds along the way, that would be great, but right now I want to make sure I can climb a few flights of stairs without huffing. Calvert County Parks and Recreation has great classes to get you started. Consider learning Zumba. A dance-fitness class that incorporates Latin and International music and dance movements, Zumba is an exciting and effective fitness system. They even have a Zumba class in a chair for anyone who uses a wheelchair or needs assistance walking and has been encouraged by their doctor to begin light excerise. Parks and Recreation also has classes in yoga, hip-hop cardio, Tai Chi, Turbo Kick and aerobics. Want to learn more – go to the Calvert County Government website, www.co.cal.md.us, and click on Parks and Recreation.

Did you get a new camera as a gift during the holidays? Robert Tinari Photography offers digital photography classes at all levels. The classes are based at the ArtWorks@7th Gallery in North Beach, Maryland. You will learn the “ins and outs” of digital cameras, including camera operation, lighting techniques, proper exposure and elements of compo-sition. For more information on class dates, times and cost, visit www.tinariphoto.com.

DiGiovannis Restaurant offers a great wine class. The classes are taught by Dee Pe-ters on Saturday, January 23 and Saturday, January 30 and will run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The cost of $35 per person includes a light fare and tastings of six wines. You will learn to compare the wines, understand what you taste, and learn why some wines taste better with certain foods. And you will meet a wonderful group of people in the process! For more information call 410-394-6400 or email [email protected].

DiGiovannis Restaurant also hosts the Newcomers and Neighbors Club on the third Wednesday of the month. The meetings are at 10:30 a.m., and are followed by a presenta-tion and luncheon. On January 20th the speaker is Scott McGuire, Coastal Conservation Association, who will speak on an oyster restoration project going on in our area, which hopefully will help restore the water to a cleaner state and repopulate the oyster beds. On February 17th Carol Khalili will provide a presentation on the One Room Schoolhouse

located on Broomes Island Road next to Christ Church. The schoolhouse was renovated by the Calvert Retired Teachers As-sociation as a bicentennial project in 1976 and is now part of the County’s 4th grade curriculum.

Celebrate the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band of all time at the Calvert Marine Museum on Friday, January 15, 2010. Honoring the Rolling Stones and their legacy, The Rolling Stones Experience will host a 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. perfor-mance. The intimate 200 seat auditorium is a rare opportunity to enjoy classic hits like, “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction”,” Beast of Burden” and “Angie.” Tickets for the show are $30 per per-son (additional service fees apply) and are on sale now at www.calvertmarinemuseum.com/concerts.htm.

On Saturday, January 16, 2010, the Celtic Society of Southern Maryland invites you to celebrate the life and poetry of Rober Burns with delicious food, wonderful music and fun dancing for all. The annual Robert Burns Dinner will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn Solomons. The event runs from 5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Wear your kilt or favorite formal attire in the Celtic spirit to enjoy creative toasts, an ode to the haggis, fiddles, bagpipes, dancing and “sangs and clatter.” Retire after dinner to the cozy heated “den” for a smoke and brandy. For more infor-mation visit their website at www.cssm.org.

Put this on your calendars – the Humane Society of Calvert County will host “Rock-N-Roll for Rescues” featuring the Fabu-lous Hubcaps on Saturday, February 27, 2010 at the Holiday Inn Solomons. There will be a silent auction and raffle items. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. For more information on this event, please contact 410-286-2679 or visit their web-site, www.humanesocietyofcalvertcounty.org. All money will be used to further the cause of the Humane Society of Calvert County. The Humane Society of Calvert County promotes compassion toward and the humane treatment of animals, by advocating responsible ownership of companion animals.

‘Books & Bubbly’

By Joyce Baki

Happy New Year!

Chris LeGrand as Mick Jagger, left, and Jim Riddick as Keith Richards perform as “‘Satisfaction’ The International Rolling Stones Show” The band is coming to Calvert Marine Museum on Jan. 15.

Piano Competition Deadline Approaching

Finalists from the inau-gural Southern Maryland Regional Piano Competi-tion added holiday spirit to the recent Calvert Chamber Business After Hours host-ed by the College of South-ern Maryland at its Prince Frederick Campus. Hon-orable mention recipient Anna Elkins of Owings, standing, and third-place finalist Molly Jeanine Tra-cy of Park Hall shared time at the world-class, hand-crafted Bösendorfer Grand Piano during the festivities. The competition is open to any high school student within Southern Maryland. Applications are being ac-cepted until Jan. 15 for the second annual competition, which will be held at the campus April 24 and 25. High school pianists will perform on the grand piano during the competition, and finalists have opportu-nity during the year to also perform on the instrument for various programs. For applications and informa-tion about the competi-tion, visit www.csmd.edu/somdpianocompetition.


Spotlight On Scholarships Available to Local Students

The following is a list of col-lege scholarship opportunities available to high school students in Calvert County.

SunTrust “Off To College Scholarship Sweepstakes”

• Program offers high school seniors the chance to win a $1000 scholarship, for their first year expenses at a college or private career school. One winner will be chosen every two weeks from Oct. 30, 2009 to May 14, 2010. For details, visit offtocollege.info or suntrusteducation.com.

2010 Profile in Courage Es-say Contest.

• Write an original essay of less than 1,000 words that dem-onstrates an understanding of political courage as described by John F. Kennedy in ‘Profiles in Courage’ at www.jfklibrary.org. Student can view complete guide-lines at this website. Describe and analyze the decisions, actions and risks of an elected public offi-cial in the US who has addressed a political issue at the local, state, national or international level. All students must register online. Essays can be submitted online (preferred) or via regular mail by the postmark date of Jan. 9, 2010. Applicants must be a US High School student in grades 9-12. Prizes are 1st place -$10,000, 2nd place -$1,000 and five finalists each receive $500.

2010 Gates Millennium Scholars

• Program is soliciting out-standing students who have sig-nificant financial need and dem-onstrates leadership skills. It is highly recommended that ap-plications are submitted online at www.gmsp.org . Paper appli-cations can also be downloaded from this site. See Web site for eligibility requirements. Dead-line is Jan. 11.

Washington Crossing Foundation

• National scholarships are available for seniors from the Washington Crossing Foundation from $1000 to $7500. History Buff? Enjoy Politics? Govern-ment or Military Service in Your Future? Please visit our website www.gwcf.org or call 215-949-8841 Deadline is Jan. 15.

Metropolitan Bergen Scholar Awards

• The Metropolitan Bergen Scholar Awards is a full tuition scholarship program which is an-nually renewable for the winner who attends Fairleigh Dickinson University. A student must have a 3.5 or higher GPA, rank in the top 10% of their class, score a mini-mum 1300 on the SAT and apply as a resident student at FDU’s Metropolitan Campus. Speak to your counselor to be nominated. Deadline is Jan. 15.

Maryland Mensa 2009-2010 Scholarship Essay Contest

• Maryland Mensa 2009-2010 Scholarship Essay Contest has begun. Cash awards range from $300 - $1000. Contest is FREE and open to the public. Applicant must complete a 550 word essay that describes the applicant’s career, vocational or academic goals. Applicant must be intending to enroll in a de-gree program in an accredited US institution for the 2010-2011 academic school year. General awards are unrestricted as to age, race, gender, level of post-sec-ondary education, grade point av-erage and financial need. Appli-cations must be completely filled out and are available in guidance and online at www.mensa-foundaton.org/scholarhips. Deadline - Postmarked no later than Jan. 15.

Princeton Prize in Race Relations

• The Princeton Prize in Race Relations sponsored by Princeton University seeks to honor students grades 9-12 who do outstanding work in their schools or communities to ad-vance the cause of race relations. Applications postmarked by Jan. 31 will be eligible for prizes—in-cluding cash awards up to $1,000 for particularly noteworthy work. Speak to your counselor about applying.

Virginia Military Institute • Virginia Military Institute

(VMI) is offering Institute Schol-ars and Superintendent’s Schol-ars scholarships. Eligibility in-cludes Combined SAT 1300/1250 or 29/28 ACT, High School GPA 3.7/3.5 and top 10% class rank. To be considered and in order to schedule an interview, a com-plete application for admission to VMI, a complete scholarship application form, a resume’ and two short essays must be received by Feb. 1. Online application is available at http://www.vmi.edu/institutescholars.

Founder’s Scholarship Es-say Competition

• Mount St. Mary’s Univer-sity - Annual Founder’s Scholar-ship Essay Competition for out-standing seniors.. Award based on an essay competition and a follow-up interview (for finalists only) Interviews are Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 or Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010. This scholarship is a four-year, full-tuition scholarship with an approximate total value of over $100,000. 3 incoming freshman will receive this award. Qualifications for participants in-clude SAT score of at least 1200 and minimum GPA 3.25. Stu-dents who meet the qualifications are invited to come to campus on one of these two Saturdays for the scholarship examination. For additional information or reg-istration forms, see your coun-selor. Registration may also be

completed online by going to www.msmary.edu/found-ersessay .

Maryland Farm Bureau

• The Maryland Farm Bureau will offer ten $2,000 scholarships. Applicants must be a high school se-nior starting college in the fall of 2010.Parent/guard-ian must be a member of Maryland Farm Bureau. 7 scholarships will be offered to agricultural majors and

three to non-agricultural majors. Students must return application form with a current photo and an essay on: How do you feel the current economy affects the farm economy? (Please do not include any personal information, for example: No college names, no 4-H club names, no town names, no county names, etc) Applica-tions along with photos must be received by Feb. 1. Any personal information appearing in the es-say would disqualify the applica-tion. Pick up a copy of the appli-cation in guidance office.

National Commission for Cooperative Education

• The National Commis-sion for Cooperative Education (NCCE) on behalf of eight (8) NCCE Partner Colleges and Uni-versities will award 170 merit co-op renewable scholarships of $6.,000 each. For more informa-tion and an online application, visit www.co-op.edu. Dead-line - Feb. 15.

Marist College• Through a joint effort with

the National Science Foundation (NSF) Marist College is awarding 12 full scholarships (tuition, room and board) to highly talented stu-dents majoring in Computer Sci-ence or Information Technology and Systems. Apply online @ www.marist.edu/admission and check the box labeled “National Science Foundation Scholarship Program. Deadline - Feb. 15.

Ronald McDonald House Charities U.S. Scholarship Program

• The RHMC and its loyal Chapters seeks to invest in stu-dents who are exemplary role models in their communities and have the initiative to fulfill their educational goals. Please visit www.rmhc.org for complete pro-gram details and eligibility re-quirements. Deadline Feb. 16.

AFSA Scholarships Program

• American Federation of School Administrators Scholar-ships Program is now open to all children of AFSA members in good standing. Applicants must be attending college for the first time during 2010. Scholarships of $2,500 will be awarded. Ap-plications must be type written or computer printed. Visit www.afsaadmin.org/benefits/scholarship.pdf. Deadline Feb. 26.

SMECO Scholarship• Any graduating or home

schooled senior whose parent or guardian is a SMECO customer is eligible to apply. Student must provide proof of residency, be en-rolled or plan to enroll full-time in an accredited college or uni-versity, complete the scholarship application form, enclose a copy of the Student Aid Report, submit an assay on the topic “Why Is A College Education Important to completing My Lifetime Goals?, obtain two letters of reference and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above. See your guidance counselor for further directions and a copy of the application, or click the schol-arship link at www.smeco.coop. Deadline March 5.

Clare and Robert Moore Scholarship Fund

• The Clare and Robert Moore Scholarship Fund offers a yearly $1.000 scholarship to a student who is majoring in Eng-lish and/or Drama at the College of Notre Dame, Maryland. Visit http://crmoorescholarship.org for information and a copy of the ap-plication. Deadline March 15.

Baltimore Community Foundation

• Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF) – BCF will for-ward any applications to College Bound Foundation if received by Feb. 15. Our students are eligible for 3 of these 12 scholarships:

- Christa McAuliffe Schol-arship $1,000 renewable. Appli-cant must have resided in Mary-land for at least 6 month, have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, be a gradu-ating senior in 2010 or a college student enrolled at an accredited MD college or university with an approved teacher education pro-gram leading to certification.

- Eric and Cara Thorn Me-morial Scholarship $1,000 non-renewable. Applicant must be a graduating senior from a public high school in Calvert County, have a cum GPA of 3.0 or higher, have achieved academic excel-lence, have been involved in sports and other school activities, have participated in community service projects and must submit a list or résumé of your activities and awards during high school.

- WJZ-TV Jerry Turner Broadcast Scholarship $1,500 - $3,000. Applicant must be a resi-dent of Maryland, either a gradu-ating senior or a college student currently majoring in broadcast journalism, have a cum GPA of 3.0 or higher and plan to seek a degree in broadcast journalism from an accredited 4 year college or university.


Publisher Thomas McKayAssociate Publisher Eric McKayEditor Sean RiceOffice Manager Tobie PulliamGraphic Artist Angie StalcupAdvertising Preston PrattEmail [email protected] 301-373-4125

Staff WritersGuy Leonard Government CorrespondentAndrea Shiell Community CorrespondentChris Stevens Sports Correspondent

Contributing WritersTony O’Donnell Joyce Baki Gerald Clark J. Brown

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

Southern Calvert GazetteP. O. Box 250 . Hollywood, MD 20636

As then President of the Drum Point Property Own-ers Association, [DPPOA] I

signed and forwarded a petition for Spe-cial Tax District [STD] IV to the BOCC in the spring of 2009. More than 20 vol-unteers spent over 4 months preparing that petition.

On June 16, a public hearing was held so the Drum Point community could make comments to the Calvert County Board of Commissioners [BOCC] on the proposed projects and expenses of a new STD IV. On June 23, at its regular meeting, the BOCC voted unanimously to amend the expiring STD III, extend-ing it 3 years and reducing the annual levy to just $50 per lot per year. I have some questions the community might like answered.

Why did the BOCC vote for the STD III amendment instead of the pe-titioned STD IV, which was presented and discussed at the meeting? WHY was DPPOA and the community not notified of the changed proposal to be voted? There was no budget or use of funding to accompany the STD III amendment. WHY was there NO public hearing for the voted STD III amendment?

The June 23 resolution called for a new operating agreement between DP-POA and the county within 60 days. The existing STD III agreement expired December 31, 2009. WHY is there still no new agreement? There is no STD III budget. There is no STD III projects list. WHY did the BOCC wait until Decem-ber to meet with DPPOA to begin discus-sions on an agreement?

Between June and November the BOCC dictated several spending deci-sions through its staff, but refused to dis-cuss the matter directly with members of the Board of DPPOA. These arbitrary decisions were never justified as to rea-son. DPPOA has not been accused of any wrong doing. (Nor did it commit any). WHY is the BOCC now micro-manag-ing each expenditure of the STD after 12 years of cooperative and (more than) ef-fective use of STD funds?

One of the staff dictates was to limit STD “administration expenses” to just 15% of the total STD budget. This was said to be “normal” for a grant program. The Maryland Code providing for STDs is not a grant program, but is a tax levy initiated by the community for the bene-fit of the community. WHY should STDs be treated like a grant program? There are other STDs in Calvert County; are they also being treated like grants now?

DPPOA has shown 12 years of con-tinued and excellent STD community asset maintenance, storm and hurricane repair and many improvement expenses, all budgeted and approved by the proper county Dept(s) of Public Works and Fi-nance. WHY does the BOCC now be-lieve that STD money cannot be spent on anything but roads (and now storm water management) projects? The Mary-

land Code Title 4, clearly states that the tax levy may be used for “Other com-munity wide amenities and other special privileges or benefits”. WHY won’t the BOCC allow repairs to our storm dam-aged beach?

The STD III Contract/ Agreement signed 11 January 2005, (3) “applies the (STD) revenue to improvements of roads and other amenities in the subdivision”. These same basic terms have been in place and approved by the BOCC for three consecutive STDS for over 12 years with all proposed expenditures shown in the petition exhibits. WHY is DPPOA unjustifiably restricted from repairing its lake access, boat ramp and other com-mon properties (amenities) which are al-lowed by state law and by contract?

I have just reviewed a draft of the county’s proposed STD III (amended) agreement with DPPOA. It includes a new section IV, mandate to bring some selected Drum Point roads up to coun-ty standards and to turn them over to Calvert County. There is nothing stated as to how DPPOA will provide for the remainder of roads that BOCC does not want. BOCC just wants the best apples of the tree. The Drum Point community has consistently voted over many years to re-tain ownership and maintenance of its own roads. WHY does the BOCC think it has the power to mandate turnover of private property to government owner-ship against the much-documented will of the community?

Drum Point roads are among the best private roads in the county. Compare them to the county built “district” roads in White Sands or the STD funded roads in CRE. All construction and paving of DPPOA roads were accomplished under county Dept of Public Works standards and inspections. Guard rails and other safety features are installed per Board of Education guidelines. Dry hydrants were recently installed for use by and under the direction of the local fire departments. WHY should Drum Point property own-ers be forced into a new “road district” costing upwards of $2 million to finance upgrades to roads that already comply with 12 years of standardizing?

I do not understand the BOCC stance against DPPOA. They have re-versed a 12-year relationship with the Drum Point community. Is the CRE next on their STD hit list? After just reducing our STD the BOCC wants to add over $2 million to our burden. The BOCC wants to take our roads at our expense. I am a taxpayer and a registered voter. This is an election year. The BOCC is not explaining its actions. The BOCC is unjustified in its treatment of DPPOA. WHY would any Drum Point property owner vote for any of the sitting Board of County Commissioners?

Max MungerDrum Point

What Are The Commissioners Trying to do to Drum Point?


They call themselves “Lusby’s best kept secret” and they are in the business of helping people.

Smile Ecumenical Ministries has been helping thousands of Southern Calvert residents get through personal and family crises for 19 years.

In name, SMILE stands for Service Makes Individual Lives Exciting. In purpose

SMILE stands for spreading the love of Jesus Christ by selflessly helping people who ask for it.

“It’s got to be the greatest organization I’ve seen. I’m a Baptist, and I think we’re great, but this is greater. This is unreal,” said Carl Hager, current vice president of the SMILE board of directors.

“With the nine churches it’s probably six religions, but it has nothing to do with indi-vidual religion here, individually it’s not that, it’s about giving.”

On the Wednesday before Christmas, Hager was working in the receiving area of SMILE’s donation center. A stream of people filed in to drop off donation items and clothes, and boxes and bags of those donations are stacked to the celing were Hager works.

“This is the worst its been, I can honestly say,” Hager said of the donations packed to the ceiling.

On the other side of the building, Louise Smith greets clients as they enter the thrift store, asking the initial questions about what their particular needs are. In another room, a team of volunteers headed up by Maarja Gandy distributes bags of groceries and fresh deer meat in the food pantry.

Whether it be food, clothing or something else, SMILE is in the business of helping people through a crisis.

“We are strictly run by volunteers, and we help a lot of people,” said Shirley Havelka, manager of the thrift store.

From its beginning, SMILE has operated a thrift shop and a food pantry. Sales from the thrift shop have helped buy groceries for the food pantry in addition to helping people with emergency as-sistance. This assistance includes help with utility bills, rent, mortgage, prescriptions and other life necessities. In addition, SMILE provides holiday baskets for Easter and Thanksgiving, provides holi-day dinners on Thanksgiving and Christmas Days, and helps individuals and families through life style changes, which could mean helping with education or job training needs.

In 1991, “The clergy got together and decided something like this would be really helpful instead of people coming to each church,” Havelka said.

The first building for SMILE’s operation was the unused parsonage of the Solomons United Meth-odist Church in Solomons. When that was sold, SMILE moved into trailers behind the Solomons Volunteer Fire Department while plans were made for a building of their own.

“Then we had a donor came along and say they if we could raise $150,000 by the end of the year, he would match it,” Havelka said. The member churches worked hard and raised the money, and the county donated land next to Middleham Chapel on HG Trueman Road.

The thrift store and food pantry are open from Wednesday to Saturday.

“I was told in 10 months they served 11,000

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SMILE Is In The Business of Helping People

Margie Barton, a volunteer since SMILE’s beginning, works in the linens section.

Sally Hamilton works the register at SMILE’s thrift shop. Her she helps a customer with a load of merchandise.

Lousie Smith greets clients as they come in to the thrift shop. Photo by Sean Rice

Photo by Sean Rice


SMILE stands for spreading the love of Jesus Christ by selflessly helping people who ask for it.

“It’s got to be the greatest organization I’ve seen. I’m a Baptist, and I think we’re great, but this is greater. This is unreal,” said Carl Hager, current vice president of the SMILE board of directors.

“With the nine churches it’s probably six religions, but it has nothing to do with indi-vidual religion here, individually it’s not that, it’s about giving.”

On the Wednesday before Christmas, Hager was working in the receiving area of SMILE’s donation center. A stream of people filed in to drop off donation items and clothes, and boxes and bags of those donations are stacked to the celing were Hager works.

“This is the worst its been, I can honestly say,” Hager said of the donations packed to the ceiling.

On the other side of the building, Louise Smith greets clients as they enter the thrift store, asking the initial questions about what their particular needs are. In another room, a team of volunteers headed up by Maarja Gandy distributes bags of groceries and fresh deer meat in the food pantry.

Whether it be food, clothing or something else, SMILE is in the business of helping people through a crisis.

“We are strictly run by volunteers, and we help a lot of people,” said Shirley Havelka, manager of the thrift store.

From its beginning, SMILE has operated a thrift shop and a food pantry. Sales from the thrift shop have helped buy groceries for the food pantry in addition to helping people with emergency as-sistance. This assistance includes help with utility bills, rent, mortgage, prescriptions and other life necessities. In addition, SMILE provides holiday baskets for Easter and Thanksgiving, provides holi-day dinners on Thanksgiving and Christmas Days, and helps individuals and families through life style changes, which could mean helping with education or job training needs.

In 1991, “The clergy got together and decided something like this would be really helpful instead of people coming to each church,” Havelka said.

The first building for SMILE’s operation was the unused parsonage of the Solomons United Meth-odist Church in Solomons. When that was sold, SMILE moved into trailers behind the Solomons Volunteer Fire Department while plans were made for a building of their own.

“Then we had a donor came along and say they if we could raise $150,000 by the end of the year, he would match it,” Havelka said. The member churches worked hard and raised the money, and the county donated land next to Middleham Chapel on HG Trueman Road.

The thrift store and food pantry are open from Wednesday to Saturday.

“I was told in 10 months they served 11,000

people,” Hager said.According to 2008 figures:• SMILE’s average month in the food pantry provided food for 989 families serving

over 2,996 family members.• SMILE served over 130 free dinners on Thanksgiving Day at Catamarans restau-

rant in Solomons, and served over 250 on Christmas Day at the American Legion hall in Lusby.

• SMILE provided emergency assistance to 478 guests for utilities, rent, mortgage, medical, fuel, etc. in 2008. Guests are allowed assistance one time per year.

“There’s a lot that SMILE does, for instance the cleft pallet, we do one a month,” Hager said of the national group Smile Train they donate to. “It takes $250 to get one of those fixed, so we do one every month. It pays doctors to go on a ship and fix them across the world.”

Even damaged items that can’t be sold in the thrift store are sold in bulk to raise funds. Hager said Last year SMILE made $13,000 selling damaged clothes by the tractor-trailer load to a company that resells the clothes all over the world.

“We really got a great crew here, everybody likes what they’re doing” Margie Bar-ton, who has been a SMILE volunteer since day one, said of the 100s of volunteers that work here. BY SEAN RICE (SCG) [email protected]

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Margie Barton, a volunteer since SMILE’s beginning, works in the linens section.

Sally Hamilton works the register at SMILE’s thrift shop. Her she helps a customer with a load of merchandise.

Photo by Sean Rice

Photo by Sean Rice


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Replacing a roof is a major invest-ment for any homeowner. When considering such a significant

home improvement project, it makes sense that you will have questions.

"Thoroughly researching roofing op-tions should be a priority for any homeowner considering a new roof," says Tim Gentry, technical director of DaVinci Roofscapes(R). "Many aspects should be considered, includ-ing a product's warranty, style and durability. A homeowner should ask the question 'what will this roof do for me' before making a decision."

According to Gentry, who served 20 years as a roofing installer and has been in the industry for 40 years, a roof should be care-fully selected to complement a home's design and geographic weather conditions. It should also provide long-term comfort and safety for those who live in the home. Some of the most frequent questions Gentry receives from ho-meowners nationwide include the following:

Q: What are the pros and cons of differ-ent roofing materials?

A: Three-tab asphalt shingles are rela-tively easy to install, inexpensive and look good on ordinary homes. However, they can be a poor environmental choice because they go to a landfill after 20 years, they perform only moderately well, and they don't add any special design appeal to a home.

Real wood shingles or shakes look good on some styles of homes and are mod-erately priced, however they have little or no resistance to fire or impact unless specially treated. They also attract insects, have rela-tively poor long-term performance and are generally considered a poor use of our natural resources.

Real slate shingles also provide a good look on some styles of homes and can be considered very long-lasting when installed properly. However, they are very expensive and extremely heavy. During installation you can have a significant amount of waste from cracking and breaking of slate tiles.

Metal roofs are perfect for some very specific home designs. They have a unique look to them, are lightweight and snow can easily slide off of them. Watch out when it rains or hails though ... these roofs are noisy on the inside of the home during storms.

Synthetic roofing tiles provide a high-performance option for homeowners. The tiles come in a variety of styles, including slate and shake, are lightweight and have long-term du-rability. These tiles are moderately priced and a good environmental choice. While the look complements many home styles, synthetic roofing tiles are moderately priced, so they're affordable for everyone.

Q: What are the life spans of different roofing materials?

A: Generally, real wood will wear out the fastest, followed by three-tab asphalt shingles. You can maybe get 15-20 years out of each of these. Some metal roofs can last up to 50 years, depending on their warranty. Synthetic roofing tiles last up to 50 years and require minimal maintenance attention. Real slate also lasts many years on a home ... some slate can last up to 100 years!

Q: Why would I consider synthetic roofing materials over traditional asphalt products?

A: Aesthetics and durability. Typical asphalt shingles look ordinary. Consider this: when you look at many homes, especially those with steep roofs, almost half of what you see is the roof. When selecting a roof, think about curb appeal and resale value. Synthetic tiles make an ordinary home look extraordi-nary. Additionally, they give you peace-of-mind because these roofing tiles will perform exceptionally well against fire, impact, wind and other weather conditions.

Q: What is the synthetic roofing material made of?

A: At DaVinci, we use an engineered polymer, which is impregnated with fire re-tardant and state-of-the-art advanced UV sta-bilizers specifically formulated for the tough conditions tiles are exposed to in all climates throughout the year. Our roof tiles use only 100 percent pure virgin resin in order to assure consistency, and are 100 percent recyclable.

Q: Do roofing tiles become more brittle over time?

A: That depends on the kind of roofing tiles. Asphalt and real wood roofing materi-als do become more brittle toward the end of their life cycles. DaVinci tiles do not have that problem. The engineered polymer used in synthetic tiles changes very little over time or when subjected to extreme temperature and weather conditions. Third party indepen-dent extended life testing has shown minimal degradation of the material's performance qualities.

Q: Which roofing tiles are consistent with their colors and won't fade over time?

A: Most synthetic roofing tiles have their color blended completely throughout their tiles. These products won't fade over time be-cause UV protection has been built into each tile. When exposed to continual sunlight and UV rays, many other products, such as metal and asphalt roofing, will indeed fade over time, losing their original sharpness of color. However, synthetic roofing tiles maintain their sheen regardless of external factors or age, ensuring homeowners that their roofing tiles won't devolve into an eyesore over time.

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The elegance of pearls and the shimmer of crystal provide today’s bride with perfect jewelry options for any look from mod to

Victorian. “Pearls have long been the jewelry of choice for brides,” says Jill Maier, Vice President of Design for CAROLEE. “Since pearls and brides comprise a large part of our business, we are constantly updating our designs to satisfy the tastes of today’s brides and bridal parties. White crystal, alone or with pearls, adds sparkle that makes a bride look even more luminous.”

The trend in bridal gowns is toward strapless and bare shoulder styles, creating the perfect canvas for a

statement necklace and earrings. Multi-strand and Y-necklace silhouettes in pearl and crystal are a

popular choice. These necklace designs can be paired with simple button or drop earrings.

“Some brides choose to make a statement with dra-matic chandelier earrings alone,” Ms. Maier adds. “We have enhanced our selection of statement earrings with many ornate and high-drama styles with lots of move-ment and sparkle. In this scenario adding a statement bracelet is a good choice.”

While bridesmaids’ jewelry should be different from the bride’s, it should harmonize in color and ma-terials. If the bride is wearing pearls, her bridesmaids’ pearls might be bigger or layered. For crystal styles the attendants’ jewelry might be bolder to complement the simple lines of their dresses.

To learn more about putting together your own per-sonal bridal jewelry look, go to www.carolee.com. See photos and real life bridal jewelry stories at The Carolee Bridal Circle Photo Gallery. After your wedding, you can join The Circle and share your own story and photos.

Pearl and Crystal Jewelry Lights Up Any Bridal Style

Personal style and preference aren’t the only things that dictate certain wedding day decisions. In fact, a host of style guidelines exist to help brides and

grooms make the right choices on their big day. For example, while a man might have a specific tuxedo style in mind for his wedding day, something such as the time of the ceremony can dictate which styles are appropriate. A morning ceremony, for instance, typically calls for a cutaway, or morning coat, with the ushers in matching strollers. For early afternoon cer-emonies, however, it’s typical for men in the wedding party to wear tuxedos without tails. Grooms who really want to wear tails should only do so for ceremonies that begin after 4 p.m., as tails are considered too formal for ceremonies beginning earlier in the day. When wearing tails, a white vest and bow tie, but no cumberbund, is the traditional style. When planning a wedding, it’s best to keep in mind that tradition as well as personal style should dictate certain decisions. To learn of any additional norms and traditions, consult a wedding planner.

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Home Furnishing Tips to Consider

Furnishing a new home or apart-ment is something to enjoy. Of-tentimes involving a few fun

trips to the furniture store to try out a new couch or armchair, buying new home fur-niture is one way to tailor a home or apart-ment in your personal image.

When choosing home furnishings, many people simply want the most comfort-able or most visually appealing piece they can find. However, there are other things to consider as well.

• Personal opinion. Regardless of what’s in style, those about to purcahse new home furnishings need to go with the styles they like the most. More often than not, personal opinion will

evolve as you go around to different stores and see just what’s available. Newspapers and home furnishing magazines can be a great way to educate yourself on the differ-ent styles to choose from. Once you’ve set-tled on a style, that should take precedence over price or other factors such as the latest trend. Furniture is a longterm investment that’s going to be around for a while, so make sure you purchase the furniture you like best.

• Personal budget. The furniture you choose will also reflect how much you have to spend. Personal budget, however, does not necessarily have to dictate what you buy. Styles come at a variety of prices, with the materials used determining the price.

• Usage. How furniture will be

used is also something to consider before signing on the dotted line. For example, a single woman or bachelor can afford to buy more upscale furniture because they’re less likely to have young children jumping up and down or spilling grape juice on the sofa. Parents, on the other hand, often look for something that’s stain-resistant and can handle the wear and tear of the kids and the family pet.

• Needs. Needs also play a big role when choosing furniture. Apartment dwell-ers don’t necessarily need as much furniture as someone in a home. While an apartment might be big, it’s important to remember that your next apartment might not be as big, so overdoing it with furniture could leave you holding the bag down the road.


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Dominick L. Arleo, 89

Dominick L. Ar-leo, 89, of Solomons Is-land, Maryland died on December 20, 2009.

He is survived by his wife Estelle Arleo and stepsons Russell Hall, Edward Lauman, and step daughter Ren-nie Toskey.

The family will receive friends on

Wednesday, December 23, 2009 from 10 AM

to 11 AM. Funeral Services will follow at 11 AM in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Randy Casto officiating. Interment will be private.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Dominick to the The ALS As-sociation Development Department, 27001 Agoura Road, Suite 250, Calabasas Hills, CA 91301, www.als.org.

William “Dwight” Biggar, 48

W i l l i a m “Dwight” Biggar, 48, of Lusby, MD for-merly of Ferndale, MI and Center, TX passed away on December 26, 2009 at his residence in Lusby, MD.

He was born on Feb. 11, 1961 in Center, TX to Blanch Marie Campbell Biggar and the late Hubert Earl

Biggar. He was the husband of Judith Ann Bigger whom he married on December 19, 1992 in Ferndale, MI.

Dwight graduated from Center High School, Center, TX in 1979; and went on to attend college at Stephen F. Austin Universi-ty, Nacogdoches, TX and graduated in 1985 with a Bachelors degree. He then went on to work for U. S. Census Bureau as a Statistician for 22 years until his retirement on January 16, 2009. Dwight was a member of Southern Calvert Baptist Church, Lusby, MD; he en-joyed woodworking, building models and the Dallas Cowboys.

Dwight is survived by his wife of 17 years, Judith Ann Biggar of Lusby, MD; he was the loving father of Lila Catherine-Huai Biggar and Carolyn Elizabeth-Jie Biggar, be-loved son of Blanch Marie Biggar of Center, TX; brother of Shirley Luna of Nacogdoches, TX and James Biggar of Center, TX.

The family received friends on Wednes-day, December 30 at Southern Calvert Bap-

tist Church, 12140 H. G. Trueman Road, Lus-by, MD where funeral services were be held with Rev. Richard E. Hancock, Jr. officiating.

The family also received friends on Saturday, January 2, at the Watson and Sons Funeral Home, 1554 State Hwy. 7 East, Cen-ter, Texas, where funeral services were held on Sunday, January 3. Interment followed in Sand Hill cemetery.

In memory of Dwight, the family request that contribution be made in lieu of flowers for his children’s education. Checks may be made payable to Lila Biggar or Carolyn Biggar in care of PNC Bank, P. O. Box 655, Leonard-town, MD 20650, Attn: Solomons Office. Ar-rangements provided by the Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., Lusby, MD.

Linwood Beauford Doss, 78

Linwood Beauford Doss, 78, of Lusby, MD formerly of Covington, VA passed away on December 19, 2009 at Southern Maryland Hospital in Clinton, MD.

He was born on Sept. 13, 1931 in Cov-ington, VA to the late Leonard Beauford and Evelyn Beatric Doss. He was the beloved hus-band of Mary Elizabeth Tingler Doss whom he married on Sept. 8, 1952 in Covington, VA.

Linwood graduated from Covington High School and went on to join the Army in 1948 and served our country during the Kore-an War and was honorably discharged on June 4, 1952. He then went on to work for Safeway becoming the Produce Shipping Foreman and retired in September of 1995 after forty three


years of service. In November of 1995 Lin-wood moved to Lusby from Kettering, MD. He was a member of the American Legion, enjoyed fishing, gardening, shooting muzzle loading guns, and stamp collecting.

Linwood is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mary Elizabeth Doss of Lusby, MD; children, Dennis Lee Doss and wife Sherry of Waldorf, MD, Gary Doss and wife Becky of Salisbury, MD, and Kenny Doss and wife Kerri of Waldorf, MD; siblings, Lewis G. Doss of Mississippi, and Shirley J. Naughton of Greenbackville, VA; seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

The family received friends on Saturday, December 26, 2009 in Olivet United Method-ist Church, Lusby, MD where funeral services were held with Rev. Faith Lewis officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery.

Pallbearers were Dennis Doss, Gary Doss, Kenny Doss, Kenneth Edward Doss, Scott Barrett, and Kyle Samilton.

Memorial Contributions may be made in Linwood’s name to the Olivet United Method-ist Church, 13570 Olivet Road, Lusby, MD 20657. Arrangements provided by the Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., Lusby, MD.

Alfred Carlton Greene, 88

Alfred Carlton Greene, 88, of Chesa-peake Beach, MD passed away on No-vember 20, 2009 at Prince George’s Hos-pital, Cheverly, MD. Affectionately known as “Carlton” was born in Chesapeake Beach on September 24, 1921 to the late Wilmore and

Ellen Greene. He was the youngest of two children. He and his sister Martha Greene have remained close to their birth place and close to one another. Martha referred to her brother simply as “Brother.”

After the death of his father, by default, Alfred became the man of the family and at an early age he entered the work force to sup-port his mother and sister. He spent his youth working odd jobs until he was old enough to join the Army. As a young man, he was a man of faith who loved to read his Bible and would find his faith tested while serving overseas in World War II. While serving in the military miles from home, he kept in touch with his family and continued to support them from abroad. One night, while 30 to 60 feet high above ground in a guard watch tower, he made a promise to God. He promised God that if He spared his life to make it home to the United States that God would never want for a witness. After a second tour of duty and four years of military service, God spared Alfred’s life and he returned to his native home, reunited with his family and kept his promise to God.

Upon his return to the United States, Al-fred was reminded by a beautiful young lady named Grace Hunter, that prior to his depar-ture to war he had promised her marriage. Grace would not be denied the love that God had for her and Alfred Greene would prove to be a man of his word with both God and Grace Hunter. Their short courtship quickly yielded to marriage on August 17, 1946. From their union they produced 14 children and a host of grand, great-grand, and great-great grandchil-dren. To provide for his family, he worked as a foreman for Smith Building Supply for over 35 years. He loved his wife, sister, family, and everyone he came in contact with. He was a

great provider. But the greatest love of all was his love for the Lord. He had one desire in his life and that was: “To live for God and His Glory.”

Alfred believed that it was better to give than to receive. He spent his life in service to others. He joined From the Heart Church Min-istries on February 1, 2004 and was a faithful member of the From the Heart Men’s Choir. Prior to becoming a member of From the Heart Church Ministries he gave 54 years in service to The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in various roles. He served as a deacon, trea-surer, choir member, Care Mercy member and many other ministries during his life. His time was spent visiting the sick, caring for widows, giving to the poor, witnessing Christ to those that he met on his daily two-mile morning walk and giving to anyone in need. Alfred Greene had but one hobby, and that was win-ning souls for the Kingdom of God.

Alfred is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Grace S. Greene; his 92 year old sister, Martha M. Greene; children Alfred and JoAnn Greene, Sr., Maurice and Pearle Greene, Sr., Matthew and Veronica Greene, Valarie C. Greene, James J. Greene, Sr., Marjo-rie M. Greene, Anita Greene-Wills and Ricky Wills, Carolyn Greene-Traore and Mohamed Traore, Spencer C. Greene, Jeffery J. Greene, Anthony W. Greene, Wayne E. Greene, Dwight C. Greene, and Samuel S. Greene; a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren; a nephew, Howard Emerson, also known as “Glennwood;” and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral service was held on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at 11:00 AM at From the Heart Church Ministries, Suitland, MD with Pastor John A. Cherry, II officiating.

The interment was at Cheltenham Veter-ans Cemetery, Cheltenham, MD.

The pallbearers were FTH Men’s Choir and Floyd Garhner.

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

Sherman Lawson “Preacher” Hardin, 81

Sherman Lawson “Preacher” Hardin, 81, of Lusby, MD for-merly of Dundalk, MD passed away on Janu-ary 1, 2010 at Calvert Memorial Hospital.

He was born on September 7, 1928 in Mecklenburg, NC to the late Roland Law-son Hardin and Essie Elnora Hardin both of

Charlotte, NC. He was the beloved husband of Mary Jane Hardin whom he married on Sep-tember 14, 1957 in Baltimore, MD.

Sherman was a Pipe Fitter for Bethelem Steel Shipyard for 30 years and retired in 1985. He loved working on tractors and cut-ting grass.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, John Evans and siblings, Helen Court-ney and Robert Hardin.

Sherman is survived by his wife of 52 years Mary Jane Hardin of Lusby, MD; chil-dren, Charlotte McKinney and husband Ed, Jane Burnham and husband Danny, Jo Ann Church, Sherman Lee Hardin, Eleanor Wood and husband Ogden all of Dundalk, MD; sib-lings, Elizabeth Wiggins of Dundalk, MD, Betty Tilley of Charlotte, NC, Ruth Jones of

Cornelius, NC, Dorothy Clough of Burling-ton, NC, and Donald Hardin of Charlotte, NC; 11 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

The family received friends on Monday, January 4, in the Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., Lusby, MD. Funeral Services were held Tues-day, January 5, 2010 at 10 AM in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Rick Hancock offici-ating. Interment followed in Sacred Heart of Jesus Cemetery, Dundalk, MD.

Donald E. Leatz, 82

Donald Edward Leatz , 82, died at his residence in Solomons, MD on Friday, Decem-ber 10, 2009.

Donald was born on Nov. 22, 1927 in Millburg, MI, the sev-enth child and young-est child of Henry and Ethel Leatz. He served his country in the Navy during World War II.

After the war, he entered the Army Reserve and later the Michigan Army National Guard, retiring at the rank of Major.

Don loved kids, and he loved teaching. He taught in the Niles, MI and St. Joseph, MI public school systems. During his 30 year career, he served as a principal, sixth grade teacher, seventh grade geography teacher, and eighth grade history teacher. He greatly en-joyed playing tennis, and played into his late seventies – often beating players half his age.

Don is survived by his daughters Chris-tine Pokorny of Chicago, IL and Cynthia Pond of Solomons, MD; a sister, Mary Jane Sickels of St. Joseph, MI; and a brother Henry Leatz, Jr. of Detroit, MI.

He was preceded in death by both of his parents; his beloved wife Lily; his sisters Marguerite, Annabelle, and Dorothy; and a brother, Lawrence.

We give thanks for Don’s dedication to children, his country and his family, and for his joy in life. He will be deeply missed.

A memorial service will be held in Mich-igan in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) or the Edgebrook Covenant Church Crafty Angels (http://www.crafty-an-gels.blogspot.com/) at 6355 N. Spokane Ave., Chicago, IL 60646. Local arrangements were handled by the Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., Lusby, MD.

Charles William Pelzer, 89

Charles William Pelzer, 89, a former Atomic Energy of-ficial who retired in 1976 from the Energy Research and Devel-opment Administra-tion died December 15, 2009 at Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, D.C.

Mr. Pelzer had a residence in Silver

Spring for a number of years but settled in Lusby, MD, after retiring.

He was a graduate in Mechanical Engi-neering from Pratt Institute in New York and joined the Army in 1943. Mr. Pelzer was sent

to graduate school at the University of Iowa by the U. S. Army before being assigned to the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, Tenn, where he worked as a Planner Leader in the Y-12 electro-magnetic isotope separation plant for which he received a commendation from Sec-retary of War Henry Stinson. At the end of World War II he was a member of a team that developed the organization plan for the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission, the successor to the

Manhattan Project.He worked for the commission in Wash-

ington and Germantown from 1950 to 1954 and again from 1956 until it became the Ener-gy Research and Development Administration in the 1970’s. He served as Assistant Director of the Division of International Affairs in the 1960’s before heading up national and inter-national nuclear education programs as part of President Eisenhower’s Atoms for Peace Program. He was responsible for construct-ing and operating the American Museum of Atomic Energy in Oak Ridge which included traveling education programs to thousands of high schools in the U. S.

In 1970 Mr. Pelzer was assigned to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vi-enna, Austria, as Director, Division of Scien-tific Technical Information, where among his responsibilities he directed the installation and operation of the worldwide International Nu-clear Information System. He was a member of the scientific secretariat for the 4th Interna-tional Conference on Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy in 1971 in Geneva,

Switzerland.In 1974-75 he served on the National Bi-

centennial Committee identifying and recom-mending projects for the celebration.

Mr. Pelzer’s first foreign assignment was as a public administration advisor to the Helmand Valley Authority in Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan, in 1954-56, as part of the AID program. He also functioned as executive of-ficer of the U. S. Mission to the HVA.

He was active in community affairs as building committee chairman at North-wood Presbyterian Church; president of the Chesapeake Ranch Estates Property Own-ers Association; president of the Chesapeake Ranch Water Company; member of the board of governors of Solomons Island Yacht Club, the architectural review committee for the Lusby Town Center, St. Paul United Method-ist Church, Lions Club and American Legion Post 274. He and his wife, Pat, delivered Meals-On-Wheels for 24 years.

His marriage to Corinne Brothers ended in divorce.

Survivors include his loving wife of 26 years Patricia Ann; daughters Patricia Ann Jones (Thomas) of Downingtown, PA, and Jean Denise Fleming of Rockville, VA; step-daughter Elizabeth Ann Cibula (Michael) of Littlestown, PA, and stepson Timothy Win-field Magruder (Teri) of Damascus, MD; nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren; and a brother, William Pelzer, of Whittier, CA. He was preceded in death by his parents Grace and Harold Pelzer of Laguna Hills, CA.

The family received friends on Monday, December 21, at the Rausch Funeral Home, Lusby, MD. Funeral service was celebrated on Tuesday, December 22, at St. Paul United Methodist Church, Lusby. Interment followed in MD Veterans Cemetery, Crownsville, MD. Should friend’s desire memorial contributions may be made in his memory to St. Paul United Methodist Church.


9545 H.G. TRUEMAN RD., P.O. BOX 1893, LUSBY, MD 20657

Ronny JetmoreIndependent AgentHome • Auto • Life • Health • Boat • Cycle • Business

410-394-9000Fax: 410-394-9020

[email protected]

Representing Over 20 Leading

Companies

(Located across from BGE Ballfield)

Restaurant Find Great Places to Dine Locally!

$48

CLASSIFIEDS

The Southern Calvert Gazette will not be held responsible for any ads omitted for any

reason. The Southern Calvert Gazette reserves the right to edit or reject any classified ad not

meeting the standards of The Southern Calvert Gazette. 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 noti-fied after the first day of the first publication ran. To Place a Classified Ad, please email

your ad to: [email protected] or Call: 301-373-4125 or Fax: 301-373-4128 for a price quote. Office hours are: Monday thru Friday 8am - 4pm. The Southern County Ga-

zette is published every other Thursday.

2 Bedroom, 2 Bath, 1 Den luxury condo at Oyster Bay for rent! Contemporary kitchen with granite countertops, stainless, appliances, and breakfast nook. Gas fireplace in living room, large mas-ter bedroom/bathroom suite, washer and dryer in unit, free access to tennis courts, exercise facility, swimming pool, boat slip, and more!

$1500/month + utilities. $1500 security deposit required. Call Gloria or Mary Ellen at 410-326-4251. ** Ask about our furnished unit for $1700/month + utilities and $1700 security deposit **

This 3 bedroom 1 bath freshly painted single story rambler is located in the community of Drum

Point (Lusby) about 20 minutes to PAX River and 15 minutes to the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Plant. The house is approximately 1050 sf. The home has CENTRAL heat/air, includes a WASHER

and DRYER, a LARGE two-car garage capable of storing boat(s), and a fenced back yard with

swing set. School bus stops in front of house. The community of Drum Point has a private beach on

the Chesapeake Bay and a private boat launch. Pets negotiable. Available Nov 15, 2009. $1300.00

month + security deposit, and pet deposit if ap-plicable. Strictly a non-smoking home. Call Janice

410.610.1459 or email [email protected].

Located on a private, wooded, double lot this well maintained home with tiered decks, spectac-ular wooded views,seasonal lake views and lake

access from lot, is updated and priced to sell. A huge master suite with sitting room. walk in

closet and bath. Two additional bedrooms, baths, and family room. The open flow of the spacious

livingroom with a cathederal ceiling, adjoin-ing dining room and updated kitchen, makes

entertaining a breeze! Newer windows, HVAC, laminate wood floors. Be home for the holidays! Price: $250,000. If interested, please email trish.

[email protected].

Employment

Real Estate Rentals

Real Estate

Greenfield Engineering has an opening for an Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) Engineer at PAX River. Successful candidate will have a Bachelors

degree in an Engineering Field and minimum 1 year experience with IFF equipment. Working knowl-

edge of IFF principals, Interrogator and Transponder Technologies for Naval platforms required. Flight

test and data collection methods desired. Candidate must be a US citizen and capable of obtaining a

security clearance. Greenfield Engineering offers great benefits including company paid health care

and retirement fund, in a professional environ-ment. Email resume for immediate consideration.

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Out About

Do you have a event

comming up? Let

everyone know!

give us a caLL at 301-373-4125 or e-maiL us at info@somD-

pubLishing.net

Thursday, Jan. 7• Career Starters Open House

The College of Southern Maryland is hosting a “career starters” open house from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7, at the Leonardtown campus, Building A Auditorium, 22950 Hollywood Road. During the open house, prospective students can meet with a program coordinator and instructors from each available career field, learn about financial assistance options and register for classes. Call 240-725-5499, Ext. 7765, or go to www.csmd.edu/CareerStarters.

Friday, Jan. 8 – 9• Friends of the Library

Gently Used Book SaleCalvert Library, 850 Costley

Road, Prince FrederickThousands of gently used

books for sale at great prices! Sale is from noon – 4 p.m. on Jan. 8, 2010, and from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Jan. 9, 2010. www.calvertlib.md.us or 410-535-0291.

Saturday, Jan. 9• Jack Frost One Mile Fam-

ily RunCove Point Park, 750 Cove

Point Road, LusbyParks and Recreation South-

ern District offers this 1-mile early morning run to jump-start your day. Pull your family out of bed, get on board, get in shape and join us for an exhilarating fun run. A healthy family activity! First, 2nd and 3rd place prizes will be awarded in each of the following age categories: 6-11, 12-17, 18-29, 30-49 and 50 and up. 410-586-1101 (7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.).

Tuesday, Jan. 12• Manga WorkshopCalvert Library, 850 Costley

Road, Prince Frederick, starting at 7 p.m.

Want to learn how to draw manga? Illustrator McNevin Hayes is back to teach another manga workshop at the Calvert Library Prince Frederick. Manga is the popular Japanese-style car-tooning so rabidly popular in the United States. Registration is re-

quired. Teens and anime fans of all ages are welcome. For more information go to http://calvert.lib.md.us.

Thursday, Jan 14• Archaeological Perspec-

tives into Sea Level Rise within the Chesapeake Bay

Calvert Marine Museum, 14200 Solomons Island Road, Solomons.

Free lecture presented by Darrin Lowery in the museum auditorium at 7:00 p.m. Series funded by the Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium and the Maryland Heritage Areas Author-ity, and the Boeing Company.

Thursday, Jan. 14 and 21

• Sea SquirtsCalvert Marine Museum,

14200 Solomons Island Road, Solomons, from 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Squeak, Grunt, and Growl: Who am I? If you heard a grunt-ing noise at the museum, would you know it was an otter? Using known animal sounds and new ones, explore the animal world through sound. Appropriate sto-ries, songs, and movements will make it even more fun for ages 18 months – 3 years old.

Friday, Jan. 15• Satisfaction – A Rolling

Stones ExperienceCalvert Marine Museum,

14200 Solomons Island Road, Solomons

Celebrate the world’s great-est rock and roll band of all time at the Calvert Marine Museum indoor auditorium. Honoring the Rolling Stones and their legacy, A Rolling Stones Experience will a 7 p.m. performances. Fee. www.calvertmarinemuseum.com or 410-326-2042.

Saturday, Jan. 16• Celtic Society of South-

ern Maryland’s Robert Burns Dinner

13100 Dowell Road, DowellWear your kilt or favorite

formal attire in the Celtic spirit to enjoy creative toasts, an ode to the

haggis, fiddles and bagpipes, danc-ing and “sangs and clatter.” Retire after dinner to the cozy heated “den” for a smoke and brandy. Quality cigars will be available. (5:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.) Fee. www.cssm.org or 443-975-0972.

• Chesapeake LightsCalvert Marine Museum,

14200 Solomons Island Road, Solomons at 2 p.m.

Enjoy displays and talk with representatives from lighthouses both around the Chesapeake Bay and along the Atlantic coast. Spe-cial lighthouse gifts will be avail-able both in the Store and from lighthouse representatives. A talk on Lightships: Floating Light-houses of the Mid-Atlantic, pre-sented by Wayne Kirklin, Associ-ate Historian, Overfalls Maritime Museum Foundation in Lewes, Delaware, will be in the museum auditorium. Free.

Saturday, Jan. 16-18 • MLK Days at Annmarie

GardenAnnmarie Garden Sculpture

Park & Arts Center, 13480 Dowell Road, Solomons

Artful activities in honor of a dream. Drop in, no reservations required. (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.)www.annmariegarden.org or 410-326-4640.

Wednesday, Jan. 20• Little MinnowsCalvert Marine Museum,

14200 Solomons Island Road, Solomons from 10 -11 a.m.

Boat Building - A Winter Project. Build and decorate your own toy sailboat for the warmer days to come. Space is limited; pre-registration is suggested. Call 410-326-2042 ext. 41.

Friday, Jan. 22• Chicken Noodle Soup

Cook-offSouthern Community Center,

20 Appeal Lane, Lusby, starting at 10 a.m.

We are in search of the best chicken noodle soup around town. If you think you’ve got it then bring it on! Please include your recipe with the delivery of your soup. Great prizes will be award-ed to first, second and third place

winners. For more information call 410-586-1101.

Thursday, Jan. 28• Portraits in a Book

with Truffles, Fudge and Hot Chocolate

Southern Community Cen-ter, 20 Appeal Lane, Lusby, start-ing at 1 p.m.

This event is designed for se-niors. Join us for a winter craft and an afternoon of superb desserts. Create a special keepsake item for yourself or give away as a gift. Beautiful portraits outlined in a book. A one-of-a-kind spectacu-lar creation! For more information call 410-586-1101.

Friday, Jan. 29• A Fashion Show – Project

RunwaySouthern Community Center,

20 Appeal Lane, Lusby, starting at 7:15 p.m.

So you’ve got that New York City style and you rock that “hip-hop” fashion. This event is de-signed just for you! High school, middle school and college students – this is the event to show off your fabulous fashion sense. For more information call (410) 586-1101.

• Follow on the Water: A Celebration of the Bay’s Life in Story and Song

Will be performed live on Friday, Jan. 29, at 7:30 p.m. at the Calvert Marine Museum indoor auditorium. Celebrate the life and work of Tom Wisner with Mac Walter, John Cronin, Teresa Whi-taker, and Frank Schwartz. Tick-ets are $20/advance and $25/door and may be purchased at www.calvertmarinemuseum.com or at the Development Office at the mu-seum. For more information, call 410-326-2042 ext. 32.

Friday, Feb. 5, 6, 12 and 13

• “I’ll Get My Man”The Alumni Players next

production, “I’ll Get My Man”, is Feb. 5th, 6th, 12th and 13th. Dinner catered by Thompson’s Seafood. Tickets are $30 per person.

For reservations, please call 410-326-3008 and leave your name, phone number, date of show and how many in your party.

We will call you back to con-firm your order. Ticket includes dinner and show. Located at Our Lady Star of the Sea, Solomons, MD. (410) 326-3008.

Saturday, April 18• 25th Annual Opening

Day Celebration, Discovering Archaeology

Jefferson Patterson Park, St. Leonard, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Join us as we celebrate our 25th season of activities and education at JPPM. Discover the where, what, and how of archae-ology, as we highlight our new exhibit “The FAQ’s of Archaeol-ogy”. Tour the Maryland Archae-ological Conservation Laboratory. Learn about archaeology through educational walks, activities, and demonstrations.

For additional informa-tion call 410-586-8501, or email [email protected]. Free admission.

Thursday, January-201020 Paid for by friends of Tony o’donneell; lee Hurrey-baines, Treasurer

Wishing the residents of District 29-C, Calvert and

St. Mary’s Counties a Happy & Prosperous 2010.

delegaTe Tony o’donnellMinority leader

Maryland House of delegates

THe Maryland general asseMbly MeeTs in annaPolis eacH year for 90 days To

acT on More THan 2300 bills including THe sTaTe’s annual budgeT.

detailed legislative information is updated nightly on the general assesmbly website at www.mlis.state.md.us.

legislative of f ices for all members of the general assembly can be reached

toll free in Maryland at 1-800-492-7122.

One week after his Facebook page — www.facebook. com⁄mcpon — surpassed 10,000 “fans”

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)(SS⁄SW) Rick D. West used the Web site to announce his intent to further leverage social media as a significant com-munications device.

West, in a note he posted to Facebook, said he anticipates another thousand fans by Christmas, and that the response he has re-ceived from Sailors and Navy families has been surprising and encouraging. He also said that the real value of social media is the opportunity to share ideas.

“We started out tentatively, and that’s fine. But, now that we have momentum, I believe we should push it even further. I want to start putting your best ideas on our page,” West wrote. “Is your command doing something like that? If so, let us know. We want to introduce that idea to the fleet and leverage it for the good of all Sailors.”

West unveiled his public Facebook page June 25 and has been aggressive in tackling subjects Sailors around the Navy tell him they are most concerned with.

“We’ve discussed the wear policy for the NWU and your feedback made its way to our CNO. We’ve discussed women aboard submarines and the debates on that subject have been enlightening and well-spoken. Almost every decision or new policy re-leased or considered in the last half-year has been brought up here and discussed. I find that is immensely gratifying and I hope it continues.”

MCPON wrote that he hopes for even more interaction in the future, but pointed that it has never been his intent to use Face-book, or any form of social media, to subvert a Sailor’s standard chain of command. West said that often the responses he provides to Sailors’ questions are short and to the point.

“Many times, the answer I give you will boil down to, ‘Ask your CMC,’ because

Social Media Added To Communications Arsenal

we have to ensure your command is aware and engaged at their level for the issue,” he said.

Since then, West has branched out to other areas of social media, as well.

Accounts with Twitter (http:⁄⁄twitter.com⁄MCPONPAO), Flickr (www.flickr.

com⁄photos⁄43070230@N03⁄) and Slide-share (www.slideshare.net ⁄ mcponpao) all host archives of various communications products West has pushed to the Navy’s Chief Petty Officer’s Mess.

By MCCS Bill Houlihan, Master Chief Petty Of-

ficer of the Navy Public Affairs

The Patuxent River Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Divi-sion (NAWCAD) education

outreach coordinator, Kathy Glockner, will be giving public information sessions regarding student employment and engi-neering education pathways at the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and NAWCAD.

The presentations are scheduled for Jan. 7, 14 and 21 at the Frank Knox Training Center room 120 from 5 to 6 pm. Glockner’s presentation will focus on

summer employment for high school and college students in technical positions, the cooperative education program for college students and the University of Maryland’s mechanical engineering degree program offered at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center.

Parents, students and guardians are encouraged to attend one of the sessions to learn more about these opportunities. The deadline for high school students to submit

their application for NAVAIR and NAW-CAD technical positions for summer 2010 employment is Feb. 1. There is no deadline date for college student applications.

Additionally, the Fleet and Family Readiness Regional Human Resources De-partment will present information on sum-mer employment for lifeguards, water safe-ty instructors, camp counselors, recreation aides and a host of other customer services positions. Specific job announcements, application deadlines and the on-line ap-plication process will be covered. These

positions are located at Patuxent River, Solomons Recreation Center, Dahlgren, and Indian Head.

The Frank Knox training center is located south of gate two near the Cedar Point Federal Credit Union. This building is located off base and no registration is re-quired. Seating is first-come-first-served, with a limit of 75 attendees per session. Attendees must present a picture ID card upon entrance to the building.

Info Sessions Set for Student NAVAIR Opportunities

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Rick West conducts a Defense Connect Online meet-ing with senior leadership during a working lunch while on travel visiting Sailors at Naval Air Station Lemoore.

U.S. Navy Photo

Thursday, January-2010 21Paid for by friends of Tony o’donneell; lee Hurrey-baines, Treasurer

Wishing the residents of District 29-C, Calvert and

St. Mary’s Counties a Happy & Prosperous 2010.

delegaTe Tony o’donnellMinority leader

Maryland House of delegates

THe Maryland general asseMbly MeeTs in annaPolis eacH year for 90 days To

acT on More THan 2300 bills including THe sTaTe’s annual budgeT.

detailed legislative information is updated nightly on the general assesmbly website at www.mlis.state.md.us.

legislative of f ices for all members of the general assembly can be reached

toll free in Maryland at 1-800-492-7122.


By Lisa Batchelor Frailey

What do most people get from a vacation? Sore muscles from unaccustomed exer-cise, a few extra pounds around the waist,

a backload of email? Perhaps a disc full of digital pho-tos, a suntan, a few postcards and relaxed state of mind? Vacation goals are as varied as people, but with reduced vacation weeks and a tight economy, the appeal and avail-ability of “learning vacations” has really taken off!

So what kind of things can you learn on vaca-tion? One of my favorites happened when a bad knee kept me off the ski slopes for a season – I en-rolled in an 8-day “Renaissance Art in Florence” university course, and spent an amazing 8 days in Florence, exploring the masterpieces onsite. I’ve been hooked on “learning vacations” ever since! Whether you’re interested in learning a complete-ly new activity or honing specif ic skills, there’s an option for you. Opportunities abound for sports camps, photography tours, music and arts weeks, eco-tours, SCUBA-diving, and of course – sailing vacations!

Why take a sailing learning vacation? This time of year, the appeal of a week onboard a sail-boat in the Caribbean may be reason enough! If you’ve got a week of vacation time, this option allows “full immersion” sailing – you’ll live and breathe sailing, and gain a much greater level of experience than if you spent your time at an after-work or weekend sailing course. A sailing learning vacation is gratifying – you achieve new skills, certif ications, new sailing friends, and quite likely – a new outlook on life! When you’re sailing, you focus on the elements, the boat and the crew; all the niggling land-stuff melts away. How liberating is that!?

Whether you’re a solo sailor, a couple, or a family, there are sailing learning vacations to f it. As I write this from Sint Maarten, the kids’ sailing camp sponsored by the Sint Maarten Yacht Club is weaving their way through the lagoon anchorage on the club’s Sunfish. Their parents train on Jean-neau Sunfast 20’ centerboard sloops, enjoying the tradewinds from the shelter of the Simpson Bay lagoon. The courses are open to all, and there is no shortage of beachfront accommodations while you sail! Across the lagoon, Horizon Yacht Char-ters offers week-long charters on 36-49’ cruising yachts with instructors onboard, either for infor-mal instruction or ASA certif ication. Take a week to explore St Martin, Anguilla and St Barts, or

sail farther downwind the Leeward chain to end your week at Horizon’s Antigua base! Most bare-boat charter companies throughout the Caribbe-an offer sailing instruction onboard; typically a group charters the entire vessel, with instructor. Options abound from Puerto Rico through the Grenadines.

An option popular with solo sailors or cou-ples is a “by the berth” course, where you reserve your berth or cabin onboard, instead of booking the whole boat. A number of Chesapeake-based sailing schools have boats based in the Caribbe-an for winter courses; some offer courses for the passages, as well. Sail Solomons offers advanced ASA and informal courses onboard their Passport 47 Zingaro, based from St Thomas USVI; and a passage-making course for the voyage back to the Bay. From Spring through Fall, most Chesapeake schools offer week-long learning vacations on their home waters of the Bay. Courses run from beginners to advanced, racing and cruising. If a week is too long, try a weekend mini-vacation!

With so many options, you might f ind the choices daunting. So go back to f irst principles for choosing any sailing school or vacation destina-tion. Check schedules, prices, and the reputation of the school or charter company. What type of boat(s) will you train on and/or live on; how many are onboard? Does the course include certif ica-tion by an accredited program? Does the curricu-lum fit your interests and abilities? Talk with the Instructor if you’re able; you’ll be living together for a week!

Bring back more than a tee-shirt from your next vacation… the skills you learn and memories you make on a sailing vacation can last a lifetime – they are yours to call upon, anytime, anywhere. Whether on home waters or exotic seas, plan your sailing learning vacation now!

Lisa Batchelor Frailey and her husband Andy Batchelor are owners and directors of Sail Solomon

Why Not Take a Take a Learning Vacation

ENTERTAINMENT

Lisa Batchelor Frailey and her husband Andy Batchelor are owners and directors of Sail Solomon


� theWater

A live concert and CD release celebrating Tom Wisner’s life and work: “Follow on the Water: A Celebration of the Bay’s Life in Story and Song” will be held at the Calvert Marine

Museum on Friday, Jan. 29.Wisner has dedicated his life to chronicling the rich traditions of our

regional waterways. He will be joined on stage by local musicians and long-time friends and associates, Frank Schwartz, Teresa Whitaker, Mac Walter, and John Cronin, singer/songwriters and powerful performers.

“This new production, Follow on the Water, is an ensemble of stories ‘to hear, to tell, to sing’,” says Wisner from his home in Calvert Coun-ty. “They have been collected and crafted over years of interviews and through hearty friendships, culled from the energy of the earth and bur-nished by the Chesapeake sun. They are the songs and stories of the sail-ing oystermen,” he says, “the sun-tanned, quiet breed of watermen whose lives are bound in the regional traditions to follow on the water.”

Frank Schwartz grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and is the old-est of three sons of deaf parents. Having been a musician for most of his life, that journey continued when he married singer, songwriter, and storyteller Teresa Whitaker. They performed at the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival in Washington, DC, as part of a special honoring of the 25th anniversary of Tom Wisner’s Chesapeake Born album, along with friend and acoustic guitarist Mac Walter. Schwartz has two recordings: Things Have A Way Of Working Out and Below The Radar.

Three-time WAMMIE winner Mac Walter is a versatile and dynam-ic master of the guitar. In the 1960s, Mac developed his unique finger-style approach to playing folk, rock, blues, jazz, and country. Mac and his cousin, John Cronin, began playing together as teenagers and developed their unique style over the past 35 years. The acoustic fingerstyle and harmonies they project together is amazing. Cronin, who lives in British Columbia, spent seven years working in the hugely popular Ian Tyson Band touring Canada and the USA. Tom Wisner, describes John’s playing as “the heart of the guitar.” Mac Walter and John Cronin have produced two CDs entitled Cousins and Second Cousins.

Battling lung cancer for the last year, Tom Wisner has long been her-alded as the “Bard of the Bay.” His vast repertoire of bay-oriented songs has been featured on national TV and forms a part of the Smithsonian Folkways Collection. Tom Wisner is the recipient of the 2003 John Den-ver award of the World Folk Music Association. He also received a Life-time Achievement Award in 2007 from the Chesapeake Music Institute.

Since the 1960s, Tom Wisner has pioneered the use of original songs and stories to heighten awareness of the national treasure known as the

Chesapeake Bay. With Dr. Sara Eben-reck of St. Mary’s College he co-found-ed the project CHESTORY: The Center for the Story of Chesapeake Life and Culture, designed to encourage artists of many disciplines to heighten aware-ness of Chesapeake Bay ecology and culture.

This musical tribute to our Chesa-peake waters, watermen, and artists will also signal the release of Tom Wisner’s final recording, which will be available for sale that evening. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door and may be purchased at www.calvert-marinemuseum.com. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Seating is limited and advance pur-chase is recommended.

For additional information and to purchase tickets, visit the website at www.calvertmarinemuseum.com or call 410-326-2042. Cash bar with beer, wine, and soda will be available.

A Celebration of Tom Wisner

A live concert and CD release celebrating Tom Wisner’s life and work is being held at the Calvert Marine Museum on Friday, Jan. 29.

Submitted photos


LUSBY TOWNE SQUARE

1218 SQFT BATH, GREASE TRAP, SS COUNTERS,

HOOD, TILE FLOOR

1400 SQFTBATH, RETAIL COUNTER, DRESSING

ROOMS, PERGO FLOOR

1278 SQFT BATH, PAINTED FLOOR

(can be combined with 1400 SQFT)

Chris McNelis, [email protected]

** Statistics from ecalvert.com Calvert County Department of

Economic Development, Website with Demographic Information.

Bring Your Business HereOver 22,000 Residents/7000+ Households Within 5 Miles!**

LUSBY TOWN SQUARE ShOppiNg CENTER

BE pART OF LOCAL BUSiNESSNOW

AVAiLABLE

Auto PArts? Ice creAm? DIscount store? DelIcAtessen? meDIcAl offIce?Call to Talk About Opening or Expanding Your Company

look fabulous for the holidays...

CARDIO • FREE WEIGHTS • CIRCUIT

sChedule your CustoM airBrush today!!!

3 for $75One per client

Valid with Ad Only

$25SINGLE Session, One per client

Valid with Ad Only

holiday sPeCials Wash & Fold ServiceComforters

Special Pricing6 am - 9 pm • 7 Days a Week

LAUNDROMAT

410-474-2787

5 am - 10 pm • Mon - Thurs5 am - 9pm • Friday

7 am - 5 pm • Sun & Sat

410-326-2287eXPress

LUSBY TOWNE SQUAREWishing You a Happy New Year from

LUSBY TOWNE SQUAREShopping Center

Please support these local Businesses

Visit the new Gym in lusby

258 TOWNE SQUARE DRIVE, LUSBY • 410-394-6694

Open Daily for Lunch/DinnerMon-Sat Open at 11:30AM, Sun Open At Noon

Holiday Menus starting at $10 per personGift Cards Available • Private Dining

KEEp YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOlUTION THIS YEAR!It’s Easy After Joining!

The Southern Calvert Gazette -- January 7, 2010

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