Chesapeake Current 030112

Current Chesapeake

March 1, 2012

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Proudly Serving Calvert and Anne Arundel Counties

‘Las Vegas’ Casino Nearby?

See Page 3

Who’s Running For Mayor?

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Double Wammies For Area Musician

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Major Controversy Over Roadside Signs Page 12

BUY LOCAL - BUY BBG

On The Cover

Visit the businesses listed below for the best in local products and services:

Love them or hate them, roadside signs are very important to small businesses and local non-profit groups in this economy. Strict sign regulations are a hot topic, and the main building at the fairgrounds was packed for a recent meeting to discuss both sides of the issue. Find out more on page 12.

Voter Deadlines Approaching

If you want to vote in important elections coming up this year, here are some important deadlines to consider.

The deadline to register to vote or change party affiliation is 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13.

To vote in the upcoming primary election, Maryland residents who are eligible to vote but are not yet registered must complete a voter registration application and hand-deliver or mail the application to your county’s Board of Elections. A hand-delivered application must be received by the office by 9:00 p.m. on March 13, and a mailed application must be postmarked by March 13. This is also the deadline for registered voters to provide updated information (name, address, party affiliation, etc.)

Voter registration applications are available at many locations, including MVA, post offices, public libraries, as well as the election board office.

Applications may also be downloaded from www.elections.state.md.us (click “Voter Registration Information” under Quick Links).

The 2012 Presidential Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, April 3. Starting Saturday, March 24 through Thursday, March 29, voters can vote in person at early voting centers. Watch the Chesapeake Current for this information.

For more information, voters may contact their County Board of Elections at (410) 535-2214 in Calvert County; (410) 222-6600 in Anne Arundel County. Or, you can contact the State Board of Elections at (800) 222-VOTE (8683) or visit www.elections.state.md.us.

Also Inside 3 Community 6 Taking Care of Business 12 Cover Story 15 On The Water 16 Remembering Family & Friends 19 Letters 20 Business Directory 21 Music Notes 22 Out & About

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Thursday, March 1, 2012 Chesapeake Current

“Las Vegas Strip” In PG County?

High-End Gambling Casino Proposed Prince Georges County is throwing the dice on a new gambling proposal, with County Executive Rushern L. Baker saying he now supports building a $1 billion resort casino at National Harbor with nearly 5,000 video lottery terminals.

“After a comprehensive evaluation of this issue, I have determined that if gaming comes to Prince George’s County, it must be a high-end facility,” Baker says in a statement. “I believe we should develop a world-class destination facility that features gaming, live shows, dining, and lodging. I envision a facility that attracts tourists, visitors, meetings and conventions from all over the world. A $1 billion entertainment complex would bolster travel and tourism for our County, help us grow our commercial tax base, create nearly 5,000 new jobs, provide revenue to help us fund education and public safety, and create an entertainment corridor with upscale amenities. National Harbor is the perfect location for this high-end $1 billion entertainment complex.”

“From my perspective, that would be a win for the County, the state of Maryland and the Washington Region,” he adds.

The proposal is outlined in Maryland Senate Bill 892, which Baker says contains, “amendments that will address some of the concerns I have. When analyzing this bill, I want to ensure that it does not compromise who we are as a County, alter our focus on growing our commercial tax base, or hinder us from providing the level of service and amenities that our citizens deserve.”

The Chief Executive officer of Gaylord Entertainment, Colin Reed, testified before the Maryland State Senate Budget and Taxation Committee he envisions a top-caliber casino on the Potomac that would be similar to the Las Vegas Strip.

Reed said, "Because of the extraordinary attractions that reside within a 10-mile radius of this site, it would bring visitors far afield and would attract several million new visitors to this particular area.”

Specifically, the bill would authorize the awarding of an additional video lottery operation license and 4,750 additional video lottery terminals for a video lottery facility in a specified location (National Harbor) in Prince George's County. It would alter the amount paid to a video lottery operation licensee from the proceeds of video lottery terminals and create a State Capital Account

Photos courtesy of the Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center at National Harbor.

for a specified purpose. It would also authorize the holder of a video lottery operation license to offer table games in the State, such as blackjack and roulette, and submit the Act to a voter referendum.

In an interview with WTOP Radio, Baker said the facility could generate $50 million per year for the county. In addition to 13,000 construction jobs, it would provide 5,000 permanent unionized jobs paying $35,000 to $50,000 a year with healthcare benefits. Baker said in the interview that concerns about problems such as drug use, prostitution and gambling addiction that have plagued other gaming projects would be offset by using portions of the up to $50 million in projected revenues for public safety.

The Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center now offers world-class meeting facilities, exceptional service, entertainment, a world-class spa and salon, and recreation. Situated on 41 acres, Gaylord National has 2,000 guest rooms and 470,000 square feet of function space.

National Harbor itself is a 300-acre waterfront destination offering dining, entertainment and retail. It took four years to build and opened April 25, 2008.

National Harbor is located just off I-95 in Oxon Hill at the base of the Wilson Bridge on the Maryland side of the Potomac River across from Alexandria, VA.

Scan the Current Code to access the full text of MD Senate Bill 892.

Listen to the WTOP interview with Prince Georges County Executive Rushern Baker about the proposed casino project by scanning the Current Code:

Wahl Announces Political Plans Chesapeake Beach Mayor Bruce Wahl is making it official: he will run for re-election.

Wahl tells the Chesapeake Current, “I’m having too much fun, and there’s too much I feel I have left to do.”

Last year, he was waffling on whether he would run again. “The one difficulty is that I have a full-time job (at National Public Radio) that is very demanding. But on reflection, I decided it was the right thing to do.”

One of his key projects, the Chesapeake Beach Railway Trail, was completed last year. Another was launching the Chesapeake Beach Oyster Cultivation Society that raises spat (baby oysters) along Fishing Creek to help improve Bay-area water quality.

“The Oyster Program is a home run,” Wahl says. “There’s such enthusiasm about it. It’s so rewarding.”

In his next term, Wahl tells us that his priorities will include being frugal with taxpayer money.

“I will continue doing the best I can to conserve our precious resources. There are so many demands on taxpayer money right now. We’ve seen declines in property tax rates, but we have not raised taxes and we have kept Town services intact. That takes some magicianship,” he says.

And he wants to continue improving the appearance of the Town and local amenities.

“I want people to crest that hill on 260 and think every day about how glad they are to be home,” Wahl says. “Our quality of living, the essential services we provide, pride in our town – I want to keep moving things forward – maintain and improve our

Chesapeake Beach Mayor Bruce Wahl.

quality of life.”

Wahl has been in local politics for 23 years, and will be finishing his first four-year term as mayor this year. He was appointed to the Town Council in 1989, running and winning his first full term in 1992. In the last mayoral election, he faced four opponents but still garnered 42% of the vote. For the upcoming election, no others have yet announced their intentions.

The filing deadline is in September, and although Wahl has not yet filed his papers, he says he plans to do so sometime soon.

And he will begin knocking on doors.

“For the last election, I made a pledge to knock on every voter’s door. That was 1,300 households, and this time there will be about 200 more. But I think it’s important to talk to the voters and listen to their concerns,” Wahl says. “That takes a significant commitment.”

This year’s Chesapeake Beach Town election will be Tuesday, November 6, the same day as the Presidential election.

Bayside Club Prepares To Reopen The Chesapeake Current has learned that the State of Maryland pitched in $100,000 to help re-open the Boys & Girls Clubs (BGC) of Southern Maryland’s Bayside Unit in North Beach.

Reginald Broddie, who is the Chief Professional Officer of the Annapolis/Anne Arundel County Boys & Girls Club says it’s thanks to Senator Thomas V. “Mike” Miller securing a grant that the unit is able to re-open on Monday, March 5.

Another source of funds is the Deerbrook Charitable Trust headquartered in Chevy Chase, which according to its web site, supports selected local, regional, and national organizations in the US serving children, youth, and families.

Broddie tells the Current, “We’re working on securing more funding from other sources, but this will get us through the budget year, which ends in June. We have also applied for additional grants, and we want to get community support. We need consistent revenue sources. So I’m hoping that residents will respond to our mail appeals. It’s extremely important that we get community partners to help, and volunteers.”

Broddie says a new Program Director has been hired, adding, “This is both a local person and someone well-versed in Boys & Girls Clubs.”

He says he will be overseeing the club as Chief Professional Officer, “until they are

financially stable.” He adds that all the staff was asked to re-apply for their jobs.

The next goal is getting programs for kids back on track. Broddie says they are planning exciting summer camp opportunities and parents can pay a flat fee for an entire eight-week program.

The Bayside Boys & Girls Club, located in the $1.8 million building on Dayton Avenue in North Beach was completed in 2008, but had been struggling financially for some time before closing abruptly on Monday, January 23.

Broddie said at a recent North Beach Council Meeting that they are looking at the possibility of re-opening the Lusby Boys & Girls Club unit, but it will stay closed unless or until it is viable to re-open. He commented at the meeting that it was closed since September when funding dried up.

However, Chief Financial Officer Joy Hill Whitaker tells us that the Lusby Club did not close until January 24, and programs for children were in fact delivered through the fall, and up to the day that the Lusby Unit closed this year.

There will be an Open House on Monday, March 5 at the Bayside Unit of the Boys & Girls Club beginning at 11:00 a.m. along with a rededication ceremony at 5:00 p.m.

The club is located at 9021 Dayton Avenue in North Beach.

Chesapeake Current

Thursday, March 1, 2012

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New Director at Adult Day Care Ruth Lake has been named Executive Director of Adult Day Care of Calvert County. The Board of Directors reached the decision after conducting an extensive search.

Lake is a long-time Calvert County resident and a graduate of St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Her broad range of experience includes working for Calvert County Public Schools as a Secondary Math Teacher and a Home/Hospital Teacher.

She also gained project management skills and designed and drafted spaces for a local building company and a local kitchen design shop.

Lake tells the Chesapeake Current, “I’m very excited about the position. The broad range of responsibilities as ADC’s director is what attracted me to the position.”

She lives in Owings with her husband and two children. Lake is the daughter of Frank Cleary, who has been building custom homes in Calvert County for nearly 40 years, and who opened Fridays Creek Winery in Owings, where Lake has been a regular volunteer at special events.

ADC is the only nonprofit, non-sectarian corporation in Calvert County providing professional medical services, compassionate care and activities

Ruth Lake, Executive Director of Adult Day Care of Calvert County.

to adults with advanced dementia. The organization aims to enhance and maintain the health, functional independence, and general well-being of frail, elderly, and disabled adults in Calvert, through community-based health care, nursing interventions, social and recreational programs, and advocacy and support services. It is conveniently located on the Calvert Memorial Hospital campus in the Calvert County Health Services building on the lower level.

More information about ADC, including how you can donate, can be found online at www.adcofcalvertcounty.org. Volunteer opportunities are also available for those who have the time, talent, resources, or compassion to share.

Lake adds, “I warmly welcome anyone in the community to stop in anytime to say hello, visit, and see what we do here, and I look forward to sharing information about our center.”

By Susan Shaw Calvert County Commissioner

Maryland’s Passing the Buck Recently, in the Chesapeake Current, I wrote about the devastating effects of shifting the teachers’ pensions from the state to the counties and Baltimore City.

Every county in Maryland, without regard to political party, has joined an effort to ‘Stop the Shift.’ Calvert County, along with many other counties, will have hosted a Press Conference on Tuesday, February 28, in an effort to alert the public that the teacher pension shift would be BAD for our #1 rated schools, BAD for public safety & other county services, and BAD for public employees. Shifting teacher pensions from the state to the Counties will undermine our fragile Maryland economy and put Marylanders out of work. The shift of teachers’ pensions will make Maryland an unaffordable state in which to live because it will force counties to raise county taxes at the same time that the state is proposing to raise a slew of fees and taxes, including the gasoline tax. The shift of the teachers’ pensions is a way for the state of Maryland to avoid meeting its financial obligations, because it allows the state to spend $240 million more dollars than it has, despite the proposed tax increases.

The state is counting on the fact that you, the public, will not get involved enough in the details to understand the budget shell game.

Here is what you need to know in a nutshell: • The state still owes money for Medicaid from past as well as present budgets, because the Medicaid budget ballooned.

• The state is bonding operating costs which increases the debt service on the bonds by 6% annually between 2012 and 2017.

• State property tax revenues, which pay for the debt service on the bonds, are projected to decrease through fiscal year 2015, then grow by 1% until 2017.

• 6% annual increase in costs vs. less than 1% annual increase in property tax revenue over 5 years creates a compounding deficit.

Rather than address this unsustainable situation of a rapidly compounding deficit, Governor O’Malley and legislative leaders wish to pass the buck to county governments, which is YOU! However, the hole is much bigger than the $240 million teacher pension shift. All of the money spent by the state of Maryland is increasing by $1 billion per year.

However, unlike the federal government, Maryland cannot print money.

Maryland can only raise taxes, shift the deficit to the Counties, or cut spending.

One writer has stated that we, as a citizenry, do not wish to give up any of the current spending initiatives. What she fails to realize is that either the state is going to have to sacrifice and scrimp on its budget, or YOU, individually, will have to sacrifice through higher state and local taxes that leave you less money to spend on your own family’s budget and priorities.

Please let the Governor and your legislators know that you want to control your own spending, not the state, and to Stop the Shift of Teachers’ pensions.

Calvert County Sheriff Mike Evans was one of many local officials fearing budget cuts to their departments if the county is forced to come up with $4.8 million for local teacher pensions the state proposes to shift locally as of July 1. At a press conference on Tuesday, February 28 called by the Calvert County Commissioners, Evans said, “Crime will not go down, and I can’t ask deputies to do any more with less,” he said at a press conference. Others speaking out against shifting the teacher pensions to the county were Debbie Russ, Representative from the Calvert Education Association; Pat Hoffman, Director of Calvert Library; Jon Riffe, Chief of the Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad; and Chris Zimmerman, Director of Financial Aid, for the College of Southern Maryland.

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Thursday, March 1, 2012 Chesapeake Current

The End of the World As We Know It? By Nick Garrett According to many we only have about 40 more weeks until the world as we know it ends. So, if you believe this, planning major life events this year could be, well, pointless.

Keep reading. It gets worse (LOL).

Supposedly, on December 21, 2012 our world will either end or dramatically change. What we don’t know is how or whether this transition will be a lion or a lamb. We also are not sure if 2012 is the beginning of the Armageddon discussed in the Christian Bible or a major celestial cataclysm projected by the Hopi Indians.

Also, the Mayan prophecy that has their calendar ending on December 21, 2012 is brought up almost daily. What are they not telling us?

So against this backdrop, we watch things occurring around us such as natural disasters, moral dilemmas, wars and rumors of wars, and more. Keep in mind that prophetic writings can be held up during any time period as evidence that the end is coming. That being said, we are in a position in the universe that is rare relative to the position of the sun. Ocean levels are rising and our region is warming while traditionally warm regions are cooling.

Earthquakes happen almost everyday – even here - and our behaviors as people are ummm, well… we are not always as good as we should be.

But what if 2012 is an opportunity to alter our own destiny? Maybe it is not Armageddon, but a reminder of our humanity and the end of an era?

The ways of the past are clearly not working. We are using up our natural resources too fast and governments are broke. Once a collection of laws and public tax repository for funding defense and infrastructure development, governments are now confused and oversized dinosaurs with no clear mission except to suck money from the pockets of citizens in order to feed the bottomless pits created by the previous generation’s brilliant political decisions.

As we make daily survival decisions, our community’s poor and disabled are

still in need. We are still bound by a key tenet of each major world religion to be our brother’s keeper. How do we do this when it’s a daily war to provide for ourselves?

In the era of 24-hour news it can certainly seem like the world is coming to an end. Flip through the channels and get depressed. It looks like we are turning our back on faith and the fabric of our being is wrought with tears.

Or just maybe this is by design? Those surviving a post-2012 era may be more shrewd. Maybe we will work harder, love deeper, and demonstrate faith through tougher decisions, but in the privacy of his or her thoughts instead of the public arena.

We are told the spiritual path is a narrow one and that few will take it. I can see where this is true more now than ever.

As post-2012 individuals, maybe we could be more patient and caring when it comes to the needy and just showing common respect to others we encounter.

I find it hard to believe that a God who clearly seems like a patient entity giving each individual the opportunity to find the right path, sometimes countless times, would spontaneously destroy the earth on a pre-determined day. So I am viewing 2012 as an opportunity to be a better person and become the person I believe I should be.

For those of you certain that December 21, 2012 is in fact the end, there is a plan in place. Please see your County’s Emergency Management office web site for the most current escape routes and print them out before your wi-fi and GPS go down. Oh, and better hit the ATM a day or two earlier as well. But we’ll all be broke because it’s just before Christmas.

A tsunami that the gloom and doom folks claim will occur due to magnetic pull from the earth will likely result in a wave over fifty feet high in the Bay. So if you don’t have a boat, a really, really big one or a super surfboard, well, you better start saving now for a full tank of that $4 to $5 a gallon gas.

It would be good to gather along the

Rt. 2/4 corridor that day, just in case, but we’re not sure what time. Good luck there, because commuters know it’s a mess even on a good day, so we can only imagine how crazy people will be driving at the end of the world.

If the cataclysm occurs due to the explosion of a super volcano in Yosemite, be prepared for a general lack of sunlight, so have your flashlight stocked with fresh Energizer batteries.

For those of you interested in surviving the impending doom, follow me to the Dunkirk Wal-Mart. As soon as possible after the event, I will secure the perimeter along with assistance from Sheriff’s Deputies to prevent looting and make sure that the fortunate and well-to-do can get their

share of Deer Park and toilet paper. Those who are less fortunate can write in to the government for a voucher that will allow your family one case of whatever water is left. When you present that voucher to me at Wal-Mart along with three pay stubs, I will provide for your needs as well.

At least by December 21, the election will be over. So keep the faith. We can survive this trying time together!

About the Author: Nick Garrett is the owner of The Garrett Music Academy in Owings, a published author, and has served and continues to serve on various boards and commissions in Calvert County. He is also a State Senate legislative aide for District 29.

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Call Lyn at 301-855-2246 for a no-cost consultation. Offices in Chesapeake Beach and Annapolis

Chesapeake Current

Thursday, March 1, 2012

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Bienvenidos Amigos!

Good Food and Hospitality at Mexico Mexico Restaurant in Huntingtown is the standing-room-only hot spot for delicious food and cool Margaritas in Calvert County.

The colorful, authentic café with comfortable booths and an expansive menu of south of the border delights is in its fifth year. It is one of about a dozen Mexico Restaurants operated

by Eldrado Martinez and family in Maryland and Virginia. The Huntingtown location been managed all five years by his cousin, Freddy Murillo, who at age 27, runs a very tight ship.

“I came to the United States when I was 15 with my Green Card from Guadalajara in the Mexican state of Jalisco,” Freddy says. There’s a large a map of Mexico on the wall in the bar, with the towns the employees are from circled. “We had family in Sacramento (California), so I went to high school there my first year. Then my family and I drove from California to Virginia where my grandparents lived.

I remember that was a really, really long drive. Then I finished high school in Virginia.”

The family was already operating

successful restaurants in the metro area. They then opened one in Waldorf, where Freddy learned the family business. A few years later, he was ready to manage a restaurant.

Freddy explains, “We were looking for another location, so we came out here and liked it. So we started the new Mexico Restaurant in Huntingtown and opened September 1, 2006.”

“We have six relatives working here and a staff of 14. It’s a lot of work,” Freddy adds. “We have a shift come in about 9:00 a.m. and start cooking. We make all the tortilla chips, salsa, guacamole, the Margaritas – we make eight to nine big buckets of Margaritas a day! Then we cut the meat, the steak, the chicken, and prep the vegetables we’ll need for the day, every morning. We use only fresh ingredients, you can tell. Everything we have on the menu is made fresh from our special recipes that are from Guadalajara.”

So what’s most authentic? If you’ve never been to Mexico, what does Freddy suggest you try?

Manager Freddy Murillo and cousin Eldrado Martinez, who owns the Mexico Restaurant in Huntingtown.

“I really like our Fajitas, our California Burritos, Enchiladas, and our Carnitas, which are a pork dish,” he says. Their jumbo frozen Margaritas, with or without sea salt on the rim, are made with their own secret recipe as well. The Fajitas come to your table on those sizzling platters that make all heads turn to see what you’re getting!

Mexico hosts Happy Hour every day from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., which is a great time to taste one of

their specialty beers imported from Mexico.

The restaurant opens at 11:00 a.m. seven days a week for lunch.

Monday through Thursday they close at 10:00 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 11:00 p.m. and Sundays they’re open until 9:30 p.m.

Freddy and his girlfriend live in White Sands with their two sons, ages three months and 18 months. He says he’s hoping one day they will want to be in the family business as well.

Crow Entertainment Wins Awards Crow Entertainment of North Beach has won three prestigious awards for this year: WeddingWire’s 2012 Bride’s Choice Award, The Best of Weddings from TheKnot, and the 2012 Capital Style Bridal Reader’s Choice Award for the best Annapolis DJ. Of the 20,000+ wedding professionals throughout the United States and Canada, Crow Entertainment ranked among the top five percent of all wedding professionals. This served as the foundation for these awards combined with the number of reviews and rankings on each website. The Crow DJ team performs at more than 280 events per season, with most of the events being weddings.

“Winning awards certainly doesn’t define who you are,” explains DJ Brian “Crow” McDaniel, owner of Crow Entertainment. “They simply remind you that people are paying attention and that we better bring

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Thursday, March 1, 2012 Chesapeake Current

excellence to the table every time. I ran solo for a long time but it wasn’t working. I went full-time with it, hired CJ Curtis, and he and I have been running things since. He’s a very strong asset to our business and I’m honored to work side by side with him.”

Since 1997, Crow Entertainment’s team of professional DJs has been serving the Tri-County area and more recently, traveling to different states on the East Coast to entertain at events.

To learn more about this locally-owned organization, or hire them for your next party or special event, visit www.CrowEntertainment.com.

She’s The Lucky Duck

By Diane Burr

Carla Wynn, owner of Lucky Duck Pet Stuff & Grooming.

C

arla Wynn, owner of Lucky Duck Pet Stuff & Grooming in Chesapeake Beach is brimming with pride as she celebrates her 5th anniversary in the long, blue building on Rt. 260.

After her daughter, who lived in Chesapeake Beach passed away six years ago, Carla (who then lived Edgewater/Mayo) launched a custody battle for her granddaughter, who was then four years old. Carla won. In the process, she fell in love with this area and decided this would be the ideal place to raise her granddaughter, who’s now ten.

“I decided to downsize and simplify my life. I love animals, and I noticed no one was doing this around here. So I decided to move here and do what I love,” she says with a smile. “I’m so glad I did.”

Carla has been involved in Greyhound rescues for years. She has six dogs of her own, and a cat named “Sparky” that gets along with them all. She realized her interest in pet nutrition when she signed up for a pet vet tech course at Anne Arundel Community College.

“I just took it for personal enrichment, but found it so interesting,” she says. Carla had a successful career as an outside sales rep, publishing medical journals for military scientists at Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval Medical Center. But when she started learning about pet health

through this course, she became more aware of what she was feeding her own pets, and began dreaming of opening a store selling only quality, holistic and natural pet foods that are hard to find elsewhere.

“Dogs are carnivores. They should be fed beef, poultry, and lamb. But many of the commercial pet foods you buy today are anything but meat. What they use is often the worst garbage of garbage. It could be anything and probably is. If you read the labels, corn is usually the primary protein source. Dogs don’t eat corn! They need meat to be healthy,” she says with fervor, and pulls out scientific research reports to prove it.

So when she started her own store, she focused on the brands that are most nutritious. Her goal is to help you keep your beloved pet healthy for the longest possible lifespan.

“The best food for your dog would be raw meat because that’s what they would get if they were wild. But we know that’s not reasonable for house pets. So if you love your dog as a member of your family, read the labels like you would for any other food you buy. Look for brands that tell you what’s really in it. Look for meat and poultry, not unnamed by-products in pet foods. No artificial preservatives, colors, flavors or other ingredients you don’t recognize. And the pet foods I sell are all made in the good ole’ USA. I make certain

of that,” she says.

The same goes for cats.

“The ideal meal for a cat would be mice. The contents of a mouse’s stomach has healthy enzymes that are very good for cats. It’s exactly their perfect diet, just what a cat needs. So why they don’t make mouse cat food, I don’t know. I’d carry it!” she laughs. However, the cat foods she carries follow her same strict guidelines: natural ingredients and high nutrition value.

In addition, Lucky Duck carries specialty nutritious foods for other pets including birds, hamsters, gerbils, Guinea Pigs, chinchillas and the like.

And you’ll also find some very unusual pet treats there that your dog should go wild about. That is, if you can bear them!

Things like Texas Toothpicks (which are actually cow tails), Bully Straps (bull tendons), and real duck feet might turn you off. But as Carla puts it, “You have to get over it, and accept the fact that they’re exactly what your dog wants to chew on and play with. You should see how excited dogs get when they come in here and smell all these things they instinctively want!”

Lucky Duck also offers professional pet grooming services. And they have a wide

variety of unusual accessories.

“I have collars made out of recycled bicycle inner tubes. We carry nice leashes, pet carriers, food bowls, pet beds, and lots of special toys.” She adds, “I even have this rack of custom-made dog sweaters that a lady knits for me. Aren’t they adorable?

They’re one-of-a-kind!”

If you’re a pet owner, you’re invited to stop in and meet this charming Chesapeake Beach woman who owns Lucky Duck Pet Stuff & Grooming now that you know her story and her passions.

“I really do consider myself the ‘lucky duck.’ It was a giant leap of faith, opening this pet shop. But I’m still here when so many other businesses didn’t make it in this economy,” she points out. “I think I’m where I’m supposed to be in my life.”

About the Author: Diane Burr is the founder, publisher and executive editor of the Chesapeake Current. Diane spent 20+ years in the national media, working in Washington DC and New York at the Associated Press (AP), United Press International (UPI), CBS, ABC and CNN. She has earned a Master’s Degree in Management and two Bachelor’s Degrees, one in Management and the other in Psychology, at University of Maryland University College.

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Chesapeake Current

Thursday, March 1, 2012

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Build It and They May Not Come

By Brian McDaniel There you are, sitting at your desk with your fancy website and a plethora of ideas that’s sure to make you rich! What’s left to do but wait for your good fortune to bloom?

Forget that! Unless you’re on the map, nobody’s coming.

So how do you get there? What’s the trick to getting noticed on the web?

According to Clif Bridegum, owner of Your Digital Salesman, you must create a reason for people to pursue your business. This is where Clif comes in. But first let’s meet the guy himself.

Clif is a long-time computer enthusiast and all-around cyber guru.

From the time he was 10 years old, he was building desktop computers and working with his parents at their computer shop until it closed. After graduating from Calvert High School, he went on to get his Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems Management from the University of Maryland. From there, Clif went on to be a support specialist and later, a network engineer. During this time, he became fascinated with web design and something

called Search Engine Optimization (SEO), the key to your website getting traffic.

How do you get noticed on the web?

If you guessed SEO, you guessed right. In a nutshell, it means that when someone is Googling or doing a Yahoo! search for something you do, you’re sure to pop up ahead of your competition in the list of hits.

However, Clif takes it farther ahead.

He believes that marketing to people who already like you works even better.

“I like to leverage my website and social media to create a point,” Clif explains. The idea is to gain permission from your followers to be able to freely reach out to them unobtrusively with engaging content.

We all know that the buzzwords of the minute are “social media.” We know generally what they mean, and why it’s important. However, what we may not have is a grasp on what to do with it.

What Clif does is combine the power of social media with your website and help you maintain it. Or, if you’re just getting

started, he can do everything for you and even instruct you on how to keep up

with it.

This is the case for Olde Bay Tavern in North Beach. Clif created a social media frenzy for this new local restaurant before they had a website or their first customer. Once the website was built and integrated with the existing social media customer base, it fit like a glove and is ranked highest in Google for local dining.

“Without Clif’s involvement early on, I don’t know how we would’ve achieved the presence we have,” explains Doug McClair, who owns Olde Bay Tavern in North Beach with his wife, Colleen.

It works like this. If you have a website, a blog and social sites like Facebook, combining them for effective marketing is where Clif’s passion lives.

Creating a buzz with insightful questions or topics is a great way to generate traffic and get the followers you need. A follower has the power to entertain your existence and also be a potential customer. If you’re interesting and topical, your followers are more likely to be engaged by your content. Fresh content is the key, but persistence is just as important.

Clif represents another local small business owner and feels that personable one on one customer service is the way to go. He understands that you may want to do what you do best and that your interest in learning all of this makes your eyes glaze over. If that’s you, then you’re his best customer.

Clif recently joined the BBG and has already shared his talents within the group. Contact him for a consultation to see how your skills and his skills can combine to create a powerful presence on the web and especially within the local community. If you e v e r really wanted to know how all of this can help your business, you now have your own digital salesman who can walk you through it.

Contact Clif through his website at www.yourdigitalsales man.com

About the Author: Brian “Crow” McDaniel is the owner of Crow Entertainment, LLC and a resident of North Beach. He serves as one of three Ethics Commissioners for the Town of North Beach and is the communications director for the Bay Business Group.

Chesapeake Current Business Calendar Monthly Meeting: The next BBG Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 21 at the Rod ‘N’ Reel in Chesapeake Beach from 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Check the BBG web site at baybusinessgroup.org for more info.

March Business After Hours is scheduled for Thursday, March 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Spring Hill Suites by Marriott, 75 Sherry Lane, Prince Frederick. Celebrate Spring Hill Suites Fifth Anniversary as a Chamber member with food from Flavorful Impressions. Call the Chamber office at (410) 535-2577 for details.

Employer Registration Open for Tri-County Job Fair: March 2 is the deadline for early registration for the Tri-County Job & Career Fair; March 22 is the deadline for registration to be entered to win Apple iPad2. Employer Registration is underway for the Tri-County Job and Career Fair 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., April 10, College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus. For more information, visit www.csmd.edu/JobFair, call (301) 934-7574 or email CareerServices@csmd.edu.

Business After Hours (BAH): hosted by BankAnnapolis will be held March 20. Location: 120 E. Central Avenue, Edgewater, MD 21037. Call (410) 867-3129 for details.

Reminder: Gene Hall Community Service Award Nominations deadline is March 12.

Crab Soup Cook-Off: The Southern Anne Arundel Chamber of Commerce (SAACC) will host its 1st Annual “Crab Soup Cook-Off” during the South County Festival on Saturday, June 23 at Herrington Harbour North Marina. They’re also accepting vendors and sponsors for the festival. For more information visit www.southcounty.org or call (410) 867-3129.

8

Thursday, March 1, 2012 Chesapeake Current

SOUTHERN MARYLAND

JOBSOURCE WHERE PEOPLE MEET JOBS

For Job Seekers:

You are cordially invited to attend the On-The-Job Training JobsNOW! Hiring Event.

Date: March 8, 2012 Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Place: Waldorf Jaycees Community Center 3090 Crain Highway Waldorf, Maryland 20601 (301) 645-4546 or (301) 843-2233 Cost: FREE! Requirements: You must be legally permitted to work in the State of Maryland, and have experienced 19 consecutive weeks of unemployment since January 1, 2008, and have been laid off through no fault of your own.

About OJT: Maryland’s On-the-Job Training (OJT) grant will provide assistance to long term unemployed residents. This funding is a training strategy that Southern Maryland JobSource can offer local employers and jobseekers. OJT puts unemployed workers back to work earning a wage while receiving training.

For Questions and to RSVP: Calvert County residents should call: (443) 550-6750 or email jobs@tccsmd.org.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Program–Auxiliary Aids are available upon request for people with disabilities.

For Employers:

Southern Maryland JobSource cordially invites Southern Maryland Employers to attend an On-The-Job Training JobsNOW Hiring Event.

Date: March 8, 2012 Time: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Place: Waldorf Jaycees Community Center 3090 Crain Highway Waldorf, Maryland 20601 (301) 645-4546 or (301) 843-2233 Cost: Free, with tables and continental breakfast to be provided.

A requirement is that the employer must have open positions and be willing to participate in the On-the-Job Training Program.

Maryland’s On-the-Job Training (OJT) grant is a training strategy that Southern Maryland JobSource can offer local employers. It’s a direct reimbursement of up to 90% of a new hire’s wages!

For Questions and to RSVP: Please contact the Calvert County representative, Belinda Denton at (443) 550-6759 or email: jobs@tccsmd.org

Greenstreet Gardens Expands to Alexandria Greenstreet Gardens is proud to announce the purchase of Applehouse Garden Center in Alexandria, Virginia.

This will be Greenstreet Gardens’ second location and first in the Virginia area, located at 1721 West Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA 22404.

Applehouse Garden Center has been operating in the city of Alexandria just outside of Old Town for 39 years.

With the new acquisition, Greenstreet Gardens will pick-up where Applehouse left off and add a fresh touch. The Alexandria venue will feature many of the products it has carried over the years, along with new products offering customers a wide selection and variety.

With the new name comes a palate of expertise and knowledge that the Greenstreet staff is excited to share.

“Alexandria is a wonderful area with great people. We are excited about this location and becoming a part of the community, said Ray Greenstreet, President.”

Greenstreet Gardens, headquartered in Lothian has been operating a full-service garden center for the last six years and a national greenhouse growing operation for twelve years. The garden center offers a wide selection of annuals, perennials, nursery stock, tropicals, outdoor furniture, grills, mulch, stone, and fertilizers throughout the year. In the gift shop, you will find carefully selected products of the highest quality for every occasion whether for a birthday, holiday, or the perfect piece of home décor.

Where’s the Beef?

Roland’s Supermarket in Chesapeake Beach will host a free local beef tasting event on Saturday, March 3 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Everyone’s invited to stop by and check it out.

Where’s the beef from? Mary Bowen from Prosperity Acres in Sunder-

land will be running the beef tasting with products from her family’s farm.

At the same time, Roland’s is hosting a wine tasting that will pair various wines to compliment the beef.

The wine event will be conducted by Paul McBride, who lives in Dunkirk.

Chesapeake Current

Thursday, March 1, 2012

9

By Lyn Striegel

Your Money Matter$ More About Choosing A Professional As I explained in my last column, estate planning begins and ends with competent professional attorneys versed in estate planning basics. Choosing such an attorney is not easy. The best advice I can give: word of mouth referral is an excellent route to choosing the right lawyer for your needs.

Bank trust officers may also be helpful as advisors and they also are likely to charge an asset-based fee. Beware of any advisor with an agenda — that is, anyone who will be compensated from investments they recommend that you purchase. This is especially important to inquire about when dealing with stockbrokers or

insurance agents. You want your advice to be as objective as possible, free of any conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Brokers representing an organization with its own set of mutual funds, for example, may recommend only those funds; insurance agents may recommend only the mutual funds or annuities managed by their employer’s insurance company, and the brokers or agents may be compensated on the basis of assets they bring into the family of mutual funds. There are so many other reputable advisors available that are not connected to particular investments that it seems the best course is simply to choose one of those, or verify that the broker or insurance agent is not compensated based on sales of securities into particular funds.

Be wary about investment advisors that brag about the performance of investments they recommend — performance simply cannot be predicted from year to year. We have already learned that you will use asset allocation as your investment guideline.

Anything short-term in the advisor’s horizon that causes them to tout their investment performance ought to set off warning bells in your head.

Review your contract for services with the professional. Ensure that the contract is terminable at your request within a reasonable timeframe and without any severe monetary penalty. Also make sure your advisor will be accessible to you. You are hiring the advisor, not the advisor’s assistant or secretary. You should demand that the advisor meet with you at least twice a year to review your portfolio.

Many advisors meet with clients once a quarter.

Review the written investment account report that the advisor will send

you. Does it respond to your questions? Is it complete enough to give you an idea of what the advisor has been doing with your money? Are you getting tax information?

Finally, trust your instincts. Use a professional when you feel you do not have sufficient information or assistance—like going to a doctor when you are sick.

Approaching your financial health this way is good preventative medicine.

This entire series is online at ChesapeakeCurrent.com if you ever need to review them, or refer them to a friend or relative. You can even post them to your Facebook pages!

Next Issue: Concepts for Living Secure About the Author: Lyn Striegel is an attorney in private practice in Chesapeake Beach and Annapolis. Lyn has over thirty years experience in the fields of estate and financial planning and is the author of “Live Secure: Estate and Financial Planning for Women and the Men Who Love Them (2011 ed.).” Nothing in this article constitutes specific legal or financial advice and readers are advised to consult their own counsel.

Hospital Event To Benefit Pediatric Unit Calvert Memorial Hospital Foundation will host a Casino Night benefit on Saturday, April 28 from 7:00 – 11:00 p.m. at St. John Vianney Church Family Life Center in Prince Frederick to raise funds for the purchase of a pediatric training simulator to enhance patient care.

Each year, more than 8,000 families turn to Calvert Memorial Hospital for the care of a sick child. The anatomically correct manikin is computer programmable with a variety of scenarios and gives staff the opportunity to continually practice key pediatric skills.

The equipment will be part of a new pediatric simulation and training room on Level 3 (the pediatric unit) of the hospital.

“The training room gives our clinical educators a place right on the unit where new staff can demonstrate proficiency and existing staff can practice new techniques,” said Bob McWhirt, RN, chief nursing officer.

“As a parent, it’s important to me that my hospital has the latest teaching tools to continually elevate the skills of the staff caring for our children,” said Mark Davis, foundation president.

With the purchase of a $75 ticket, participants 21 years and older can try their luck at classic games such as blackjack, Texas Hold’em, roulette and craps, while

10 Thursday, March 1, 2012 Chesapeake Current

Emergency physician Dr. Mickey Mills and her husband, Chris, try their luck at black jack at the 2011 CMH Foundation Casino Night that raised $9,500 for pediatric IV equipment to enhance medication safety.

enjoying light fare by local caterers.

There are a variety of sponsorship opportunities for businesses, community and civic organizations as well as community members who want to help.

Sponsor packages range from $350 to $2,500.

At the end of the evening, guests will be able to use their winnings to buy tickets for an exciting prize basket raffle, worth at least $150 each.

Tickets must be purchased in advance and are available by calling (410) 535-8178 or by downloading an order form at www.calverthosptial.org. The public is welcome and attire for the evening is casual.

Calvert Native Honored The Maryland Commission for Women will induct six accomplished women into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame on Wednesday, March 7 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. during a ceremony in the Miller Senate Office Building in Annapolis.

The Women’s Hall of Fame honors Maryland women who have made unique and lasting contributions to the economic, political, cultural and social life of the state, and who provide visible models of achievement for tomorrow’s female leaders.

One of them is Margaret Dunkle who last fall moved to Port Republic. She’s an author, activist, and an unsung heroine of Title IX, the 1972 landmark legislation that prohibits sex discrimination in schools and colleges receiving federal funding.

Ms. Dunkle tells the Chesapeake Current, “I'm proud to call Calvert County home. I grew up in Calvert, went through Calvert's public schools. My father, Maurice Dunkle, was school superintendent and I have recently returned to the county to live.”

Within days of Title IX’s passage, Ms. Dunkle joined the influential Association of American College’s Project on the Status and Education of Women. As athletics became the engine of Title IX, she wrote the groundbreaking analysis documenting massive discrimination against female college athletes.

Her powerful 1974 report provided the blueprint for the Title IX regulations on athletics, leading James A. Michener, in Sports in America, to call it “a model of restraint, persuasion and good sense. But it also has a sharp bite.” She reported, for example: a large Midwestern university spending more than $2,6 million on men’s athletics, but nothing on women’s; a West Coast university providing special insurance for male athletes only; and a private New England college fully covering travel for men’s teams, while female athletes had to hold bake sales and sell Christmas trees.

Colleges nationwide used her manual, Competitive Athletics: In Search of Equal Opportunity, published by the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, to identify and correct athletic inequities, from adding more teams to offering athletic scholarships to women.

In 1975, Ms. Dunkle became the first Chair of the National Coalition for Women and Girls in Education, which led the successful fight for strong Title IX regulations and their effective implementation. She chaired meetings with cabinet secretaries, and testified in support of the Women’s Educational Equity Act and improved vocational education opportunities for girls.

Organizationally, she paved the way for this Coalition to institutionalize itself so that it still exists today.

Ms. Dunkle many firsts include documenting the pervasiveness of pregnancy discrimination in college student health insurance policies and the degree to which public schools discriminated against pregnant and parenting students. As Director of the AAUW Educational Foundation, she commissioned the influential 1991 study, How Schools Shortchange Girls. Legislatively, she conceived a 1986 federal provision that enabled low-income women to receive student financial aid without losing welfare or health insurance, and a 2007 Head Start requirement for

Local Gallery Moves, Reopens

Margaret Dunkle Photo by Bruce Armstrong.

developmental screenings of all enrolled children. As President of the Federation of Organizations for Professional Women, she helped shape the 1980 Science and Technology Equal Opportunities Act, which increased opportunities for women and minorities.

Ms. Dunkle has a family member who is vaccine-injured, sustaining brain injury and subsequent developmental disabilities. This concern led her to found the Early Identification and Intervention Collaborative for Los Angeles County, involving more than 350 partner organizations to promote early screening and effective intervention for young children with disabilities and developmental delays. It is also why she has a focus on vaccine safety.

She has lived in Calvert, Cecil, and Garrett counties and has more than 100 publications. As a teenager, she won a Maryland essay contest on American freedoms and appeared with President John F. Kennedy at Independence Hall. She is currently Lead Research Scientist with the Department of Health Policy at George Washington University.

Here are the other 2012 inductees: - Alice Manicur is an educator and has served as Frostburg State University’s chief student affairs officer for 46 years, initiating many ground-breaking services and programs.

- Diana Gribbon Motz is the first Maryland woman appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and only the second woman in the court’s 150-year history.

- Gwendolyn Rooks is the founder of the after school AKAdemy that offers an arts-based program to middle school girls to help improve school performance and provide a safe environment after school.

- Maureen Black is the John A. Scholl MD and Mary Louise Scholl MD Endowed Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She is also the founder/director of the Growth and Nutrition Clinic, a multidisciplinary clinic that provides services to children with poor growth and feeding problems.

- Nancy Kopp is the 23rd Maryland State Treasurer since the adoption of the Constitution of 185l. She is the second woman ever to serve as Maryland’s State Treasurer and is the only woman serving Maryland in a Constitutional Office.

Artworks@7th in North Beach is moving to a beautiful new location on the boardwalk at 9100 Bay Avenue #104. It reopens as of March 1 with a show by Carol Wade and Rita Metro called "Shoes and Booze." Everyone’s invited to an artist’s reception on Saturday, March 3 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Mark your calendars: the official

grand opening reception is scheduled for Saturday, April 7 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and will feature fresh new works by the artists of Artworks@7th.

Because of the larger amount of wall and floor space, they’re making a Call for Artists. More information is available on the website: www.artworksat7th.com or email gbwood2@verizon.net.

Chesapeake Current

Thursday, March 1, 2012 11

On The

“B

usinesses say they need them to stay alive in this economy. Some homeowners are incensed over them, and many drivers say they’re distracting and too small to read, anyway. The State of Maryland has even sent crews out on weekends to collect them from roadways following enactment of strict new sign regulations last year. Regardless of which side you’re on, those small signs stuck in the ground – especially along Routes 2 and 4 – are a hot issue.

Calvert County Economic Development officials say more than 125 people signed up to attend a meeting they scheduled on signage and held at the Fairgrounds Monday evening, February 27. The room was packed, with interested people filling 15 tables for a chance to give their heated two-cents-worth on the topic.

The discussion covered everything from weekend signs put out to draw in customers to why some businesses can put up banners and flags and others can’t and what about those big “rolling” billboards on truck beds parked in

Signs, Signs Everywhere Signs

By Diane Burr various locations – are they OK? County Commissioners President Jerry Clark reiterated repeatedly that county crews are not the ones out plucking the expensive signs businesses have printed off the shoulders of highways on weekends.

“They didn’t tell us they were coming out in January to pull the signs’ they gave us conflicting information,” Clark said. “The state said they were not going to pay crews overtime to collect signs on Saturdays and Sundays, but they showed up unannounced and they were out there, anyway, pulling them up.”

“I’m a small business owner, in business for 30 years,” Clark told the crowd, “and I’ve been known to put a sign out once in a while myself. Now why the state decided to start enforcing this (law) during the recession, I don’t know.”

One man asked why Senator Mike Miller wasn’t on hand. Clark said, “I can’t answer that… I don’t know. But we’re not here to blame Mike Miller or Tony O’Donnell.

That’s counterproductive. This law covers the

12 Thursday, March 1, 2012 Chesapeake Current

entire state. And as much as you need your sign, there are lots of others who don’t like your signs. Don’t be negative.

We want to be positive and come up with some answers.”

The 15 tables were given flip charts and markers along with a county employee at each to facilitate the discussion and record their comments.

Homebuilder Brooke Kaine was one of those who said Route 4 is like Calvert County’s ‘main street.’

Gary Armstrong, owner of Heavenly Chicken and Ribs in Dunkirk asked why business owners could not “wrap” their vehicles and display their company names.

Maureen Walker, owner of Spice Islands Wicker in Owings, told how her business has dropped off since new sign regulations took effect.

“When Route 4 was built, it bypassed the small towns and it’s killing them. Look at Huntingtown. Only locals go down that road and it’s really hard for everyone and everything located off Route 4 – all the way from one end of the county to the other.”

Kelly McConkey, owner of Kelly’s Tree Service, Landscaping and Nursery in Dunkirk commented, “You don’t even know what’s back in that Giant Shopping Center – or the Safeway Center across the street (in Dunkirk and Prince Frederick)– unless you physically stop and pull in. It’s really bad for the businesses, because drivers go right on by.”

McConkey added, “I think this is the wrong economy to be doing this now.

Builders are not selling homes, neither are realtors. It’s not the time to be doing this to businesses.”

One of the most vocal business people was Cynthia Andress, owner of Prime Wine & Spirits in the Chapline Shopping Center, near Food Lion in Prince Frederick. She said she had been repeatedly hassled about signage, and she was left with no way to draw in customers.

“We’re set back off Route 4 and people forget we’re back here. The Arby’s just closed and we have five empty storefronts in our shopping center because of this. All I’m allowed to do is put up one little, tiny six inch by 12-inch plaque on the monument sign for the shopping center and no one can read that! There’s no place for me to advertise my business properly,” Andress claimed.

She also asked why other liquor stores were allowed to put up larger signs and banners, yet she was threatened with a $500 citation if she didn’t take her smaller banner down from her awning.

Clark said of the specific businesses, “Oh, they’ve been there a long time, been doing that for 40-50 years.”

Clark said that some businesses had signage that was ‘grandfathered’ in, before later sign laws were put in place.

Charles Johnston, who’s only been the county’s Director of Planning and Zoning for about four months, acknowledged that enforcement is inconsistent. Often what happens is that someone complains, so the business owners are confronted.

Another business owner said it wasn’t fair, and that no “anonymous” complaints should be allowed. A name should have to accompany the complaint, he said.

Johnston added that local, state and federal laws are very confusing, and conflicting. He added that there’s a need to put all of the regulations together to compare, “The apples, oranges, pears and grapes and make it more clear for businesses. And it is confusing because there are variables even on Routes 2/4.”

Clark said because state money was used to construct Route 4 in the northern part of the county, Maryland controls the right of ways. South of Prince Frederick, Route 4 was built with

federal money all the way through St. Leonard, Lubsy and Solomons to the Gov. Thomas Johnson Bridge, so no signs whatsoever are allowed because of federal laws. In addition, each Town Center has its own architectural committee with differing signage rules.

So what’s allowed where?

“You have to look at the maps to know, and then it’s not always so clear,” Clark said. “You can also contact the State Highway Administration and ask them to look up your specific location.

But it’s complicated so they likely won’t give you an answer right away. If it’s a road with a number, it does not belong to the county. It belongs to someone else.”

One person asked where the roadway right-of-way on highways begins and ends. Clark said,” If you have a telephone pole or utility pole, that’s usually it. Between the pole and the road – that’s the right-of-way. On the other side of the pole, that’s private property.”

Maureen Walker, owner of Spice Islands Wicker on Investment Court off Skinner’s Turn Road in Owings said she’s seen her business drop tremendously since the new sign regulations went to effect last year.

“I even called Economic Development, and they were very responsive. They suggested that I go find out who owns the properties along Route 4 where people would turn to come down to my store, so I did that. I reached out to about 30 property owners, wrote letters. I only got three positive responses and one negative from all the letters I sent, asking if I could put up a sign on their property. Then, after all that, I found out that the county has regulations for ‘no signs’ on agricultural or residential property. That’s all we have here! So after all that, I found out I couldn’t put up a sign on those three, anyway,” she said.

The issue of signage on vehicles was also a hot topic, with Gary Armstrong, owner of Heavenly Chicken and Ribs in Dunkirk asking, “What’s wrong with wrapping your vehicle and putting your business name on it? Why aren’t those “rolling billboards” allowed? What about the semi’s I see driving up and down Route 4 all the time that have company names on them? This is America! Why can’t we have signs?” he asked.

Armstrong drew chuckles by adding, “I guess if we don’t like it, we can always move to France.”

Christine Finamore, a County Zoning Planner commented, “Some protections are needed. For instance, we don’t want to see men in bikinis holding signs along Route 4. No one wants to see that!”

McConkey said the Optimist Club was told they had to take down their ‘Christmas Trees For Sale’ sign at the Safeway Shopping Center in Prince Frederick last holiday season. “They were

raising money for kids. And they sold 250 less trees than the year before. I know because I had to mulch them.

That’s an awful waste and because of it, they didn’t raise much money, either.”

John Kelly, owner of Kelly Generators in Owings said, “We have 80,000 people a day going up and down Route 4. Of course, businesses want to put signs out there so people can see them. I let the Boy Scouts, Project Echo and other charities put up signs every now and then on my property. Am I violating laws?” he asked.

He was told that no, temporary signs are allowed as long as they confirm to size restrictions and time limits. County officials added that nonprofits, churches and garage sales fall under those ‘temporary sign’ allowances. Another person asked who ‘times’ or tracks when ‘temporary’ signs are put up. No one seemed to know.

“But I can’t put out a ‘help wanted’ sign! I was told I can’t put those up,” Kelly added, shaking his head. “I can’t even hire enough people in this economy, yet I can’t even put a sign in front of my business to advertise for them. It makes no sense.”

Although no changes were promised at the meeting, county officials did listen and they got an earful.

One recommendation that all agreed was very valid was to create a “one-stop-shopping” Internet page

where all the various regulations can be easily found.

Other suggestions that county officials agreed were reasonable was making the signage law information available at libraries and the Chamber of Commerce, along with including it in a “kit” for prospective business owners.

At the end of the meeting, legislative aide for Delegate Mark Fisher outlined House Bill 1131, which would change State enforcement practices so that signage laws are not enforced from 4:00 p.m. on Fridays through 9:00 p.m. on Sundays, or when the following Monday is a holiday. A hearing is scheduled for March 13 at 1:00 p.m. before the Environmental matters Committee.

Everyone is invited to Annapolis to testify and give opinions. To read entire House Bill, scan the Current Code with your smart phone.

Scan the Current Code with your smart phone to read House Bill 1131, co-sponsored by Delegate Mark Fisher, which aims to turn back state enforcement of sign regulations on weekends and holidays.

About the Author: Diane Burr is the founder, owner and publisher of the Chesapeake Current.

Chesapeake Current

Thursday, March 1, 2012 13

Police Blotter the driveway of a home on Cove Point Road in Lusby overnight between February 24 and 25.

The trailer, which had been made from old car parts, is valued at $2,000. Anyone with Destruction of Property information is asked to contact DFC Velasquez A motorist reported to DFC P. Aurich that on at (410) 535-2800.

February 20 at about 6:30 p.m. she was driving on MD Rt. 4 near Lower Marlboro Road in Fleeing & Eluding Sunderland when a green Honda Civic came While traveling south on Gunsmoke Trail in racing up beside her. She stated that the Lusby on February 19 at 2:47 a.m., DFC J. occupants, a white male passenger and a black Smith observed an oncoming vehicle traveling male driver, began yelling at her and threw an toward him in the southbound lane. DFC unknown object out the window at her vehicle, Smith swerved to avoid striking the vehicle and striking the right rear passenger door. The turned around attempting to conduct a traffic victim advised that the suspect vehicle had blue stop. The vehicle ran a stop sign and accelerated writing on the back. The damage to her vehicle to speeds in excess of 85 mph. The vehicle is estimated at $300. Anyone with information finally stopped on Rafael Road and the driver is asked to contact DFC Aurich at (410) jumped out. DFC Smith apprehended him 535-2800. and arrested the driver identified as Michael Anthony Green, 35, of Lusby. Green initially DFC R. Weems responded to the area of gave a false name. Green was charged with false Hillside Drive and Long Beach Road for the statement, obstructing and hindering a police report of damaged mailboxes on February 14 at officer and numerous traffic violations.

5:52 a.m. DFC Weems recovered thirteen mailboxes that had been knocked from their Disorderly posts or severely damaged. One section of vinyl DFC R. Kreps responded to the North East fencing had also been damaged. Total Community Center in Chesapeake Beach in estimated loss is $350.

Anyone with reference to an intoxicated subject harassing information is asked to contact DFC Weems at patrons and refusing to leave on February 18 at (410) 535-2800.

3:33 p.m. Kreps made contact with the suspect, later identified as Frederick Emmett Donahue, The window of a vehicle was smashed while it 51, of Chesapeake Beach, who became was parked at the Southern Maryland belligerent. Donahue was ultimately arrested Community Network building at 305 N. after being taken to the ground and was charged Prince Frederick Boulevard in Prince Frederick with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. on February 23 between 8:00 a.m. and noon.

The damage is estimated at $200. Dep. G. Gott CDS Violations is investigating.

On February 25 at 9:51 p.m. Dep. C. Fox responded to the Huntingtown 7-11 Disorderly Conduct Convenience store for the report of a suspicious DFC J. Norton conducted a traffic stop on vehicle. Dep. Cox made contact with four February 14 at 5:50 p.m. on 8th Street and occupants inside the vehicle, which was Dayton Avenue in North Beach. He found the reported to have been parked at the store for driver, later identified as John Bartholomew about 30 minutes and the occupants were Noone, 49, of Rose Haven, to be under the reported to have been walking in and out of the influence of alcohol. While placing Noone store. One person in the car, identified as Brian under arrest, Noone became loud and started Allen Ward, 41, of Owings, was found to have screaming profanities at the deputy, so Noone an open arrest warrant for drug possession. All was also charged with disorderly conduct and four occupants were arrested and charged with failure to obey a lawful order. possession of marijuana and possession of a schedule IV drug, Alprazolam, possession of Theft Alprazolam in sufficient quantity to indicate an DFC M. Robshaw arrested Miguel Angel intent to distribute, possession with intent to Cabrera, 35, of Bowie, when he apprehended use drug paraphernalia, a clear glass smoking him in the woods in the Sunderland area after device, and possession of controlled Cabrera tried to flee on February 16 at about paraphernalia, a hypodermic syringe. The other 10:06 p.m. Robshaw had received information three occupants are identified as Todd Royer that Cabrera’s vehicle was weaving all over the Crampton, 29, of Welcome, Renee Emily roadway on MD Rt. 4 just prior to MD Rt. 2 in Goshorn, 23, of Prince Frederick, and Richard Sunderland. Robshaw observed the suspect Hubert Mullen, 35, of Prince Frederick. vehicle at the Sunderland 7-11 convenience store and attempted a traffic stop, but the After stopping a vehicle for speeding in the area vehicle turned onto MD Rt. 2, stopping at of MD Rt. 4 at Ponds Wood Road in Sunderland Drive, where the driver ran from Huntingtown on February 21 at 11:45 p.m. the vehicle into the woods.

Robshaw Dep. C. Fox found the driver, identified as apprehended the driver and arrested him. James E. O’Neal III, 26 of Mechanicsville, to be Employees of the 7-11 store advised that the driving under the influence of alcohol. O’Neal suspect had entered the store and attempted to also was in possession of suspected drugs and steal items. The suspect later claimed to was charged with possession of marijuana and Robshaw that the employees had been trying to possession of drug paraphernalia, a green rob him. Cabrera was charged with theft less metallic smoking device and plastic baggie as than $100, making a false statement to a police well as DUI. officer, fleeing and eluding, DUI, driving on a revoked license and numerous other traffic State Police Barrack U Reports: violations. of Marijuana The owner of a blue and black car trailer advised Possession First Class Dawson responded to the DFC M. Velasquez that it had been stolen from Trooper Prince Frederick McDonalds on February 13 at

Calvert County Sheriff’s Department Reports:

14 Thursday, March 1, 2012 Chesapeake Current

7:10 p.m. for a report of a suspicious vehicle.

Contact was made with the vehicle and its occupants and a search of the vehicle revealed that passenger, Michael S. Collins, 18, of Owings, was in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He was arrested and incarcerated at the Calvert County Detention Center.

of Carson Dr. in Huntingtown for a reported destruction of property on February 19 at 5:28 p.m. A light pole and mailbox were destroyed.

A county road sign was also stolen. The investigation continues.

Trooper First Class Lewis stopped a vehicle on MD Rt. 4 near Yellow Bank Rd. in Dunkirk for traffic violations on February 18 at 10:58 a.m.

A search of the vehicle revealed marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Garland K. Turner, Jr., 19, of Luray, VA, was arrested and incarcerated at the Calvert County Detention Center.

Continued investigation of the vehicle revealed approximately 11 grams of marijuana, valued at $224, a digital scale, and additional paraphernalia. Both the driver and passenger were arrested and charged accordingly.

Sr. Trooper Johns responded to the 5300 block of Forest Trail in St. Leonard for a reported destruction of property on February 15 at 7:27 Trooper First Class Lewis stopped a vehicle for a.m. Tires were slashed on a vehicle. Investigatraffic violations on MD Rt. 4 north of Ferry tion continues.

Landing Rd. in Dunkirk on February 16 at 8:17 a.m. A strong odor of marijuana was Anne Arundel County Police emitting from within the vehicle. A search Reports: revealed that Jeremiah S. Mason, 25, of Lusby in possession of marijuana. He was arrested and CDS Traffic Arrests in Lothian incarcerated at the Calvert County Detention On February 17, 2012, at approximately 4:00 Center. a.m., an officer was conducting an investigation of a traffic accident in the area of MD Route 4 Trooper S. Lewis stopped a vehicle on Rt. 261 and Plummer Lane in Lothian. A silver Buick in Chesapeake Beach for traffic violations on attempted to drive through the scene and February 18 at 3:20 a.m. The driver, Morgan C. committed multiple traffic offenses. Officers Lamack, 21, of Chesapeake Beach, was arrested quickly stopped the vehicle and upon contact for DUI and a search revealed that she was in with the two occupants, noticed CDS possession of marijuana. She was arrested and paraphernalia between the driver and passenger incarcerated at the Calvert County Detention seats. Both subjects were detained for a search of Center. the vehicle.

Suspect #1 (driver) - Gary Tyrone Blocker, age 21, of District Heights, MD. The suspect was charged with minor traffic offenses, possession Theft Trooper Casarella responded to the Kmart of CDS (marijuana) with intent to distribute; Store in Prince Frederick for a shoplifting possession of CDS (marijuana); and possession complaint on February 19 at 4:05 p.m. Unique of CDS paraphernalia.

A. Stokes, 18, of Lusby and a juvenile were both arrested for shoplifting. The juvenile was Suspect #2 (passenger) - Anthony Eric Choureleased to parents and Ms. Stokes was incarcer- teau, age 22, of Washington, DC. The suspect ated at the Calvert County Detention Center. is charged with possession of CDS (marijuana) with intent to distribute; possession of CDS (marijuana); possession of CDS paraphernalia; Destruction of Property Trooper Casarella responded to the 1000 block and an outstanding warrant.

Metal, Oil and Gas Thefts With fuel prices on the rise, police are asking residents and business owners to beware of thieves.

Anne Arundel County Police say they are experiencing an uptick in the theft of home heating fuel and diesel fuel from company vehicles. Home heating oil thefts have occurred both at residences and businesses. They suggest you contact your fuel oil suppler and inquire about tank locking devices. The same would apply to locking devices on company vehicles.

These thefts are usually committed by individuals operating pick-up trucks with tanks in the rear truck bed. If you see such a vehicle, particularly at night, please jot down the tag number call 911.

The more awareness of and eyes on the problem can only benefit us all.

The Calvert Investigative Team is requesting assistance from the public in regards to an ongoing problem associated with theft of metal from businesses.

Beginning in December 2011, unknown suspects have unlawfully removed copper and other metal from heat pumps and/or air conditioning units. Once the metal is stolen, it is usually taken to a scrap metal recycling location and sold. With the recent increase in the price received for scrapped copper, it is anticipated that similar type crimes will occur.

To date, at least five businesses, most located between Prince Frederick and Dunkirk have been victimized.

Trooper Keith Greggs, of the Calvert Investigative Team, is handling these ongoing criminal investigations.

The Calvert Investigative Team warns all business owners to be on the lookout for any suspicious behavior. The individuals committing these types of crimes usually strike during the cover of darkness.

Anyone seeing suspicious behavior is asked to report it immediately by dialing 911.

On Oysters and Crab Pots

By Bob Munro A few issues back, we mentioned that fall surveys conducted by Maryland Department of Natural Resources personnel found few surviving oysters (the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica) in samples taken north or upstream of the Bay Bridge. You only have to remember the two major storms we experienced last summer that turned the upper Bay's water to mud laden with anything that would float. However, biologists were able to determine that the loss of oysters above the Bay Bridge occurred BEFORE those summer storms, and blamed record fresh water flows from the Susquehanna River earlier in the year.

Because oysters tolerate salinities generally more than 5 ppt, extended flows of fresh water took their toll.

The overall survival rate across all sample locations was 92 percent, the highest rate measured in more than twenty-five years. It's possible that the depressed salinity levels recorded essentially Bay-wide last summer may have been a contributing factor to the survival rate. It's well known (by scientists at least) that "MSX" and "Dermo," the two dominant diseases affecting Bay oysters, are much more prevalent in salinities above 15 ppt (about one-half of ocean water salinity). So it makes sense that lower salinity and lower disease incidence gave oysters a break in 2011 in many parts of the Bay. Before we get too excited about a very good year for Bay oysters, we have to realize that the current oyster population is less than one percent of historic levels.

The diseases mentioned above and over-fishing led to the current population lows that have persisted for years.

Oysters are filter feeders - they strain phytoplankton (algae) and other microscopic organisms out of the Bay's waters - and a single adult oyster can filter more than 50 gallons of water per day.

The overall health of the Bay could certainly benefit from a recovered oyster population.

As we’ve reported in many issues of the Chesapeake Current, citizens of the

Town of Chesapeake Beach have been involved in an oyster cultivation project called Chesapeake Beach Oyster Cultivation Society (CBOCS), modeled intentionally after a similar effort ongoing in the creeks around Solomons Island.

Buoyant Oyster Cultivation System (BOCS) cages filled with spat (young oysters) on shell were placed in Fishing Creek last summer along the Chesapeake Beach Railway Trail.

Smaller cages provided by the Marylanders Grow Oysters program were suspended from Bay-front piers by CBOCS members.

We'll keep you posted on this project but in the meantime you can visit the Town's website (chesapeake-beach.md.us) or point your smart phone at this Current Code.

What happens to crab pots that get "relocated" by stormy waters or other forces of nature? Eventually, the buoyant float becomes detached and the crab pot begins to settle into the bottom of the Bay. Now called a "ghost pot" it continues to catch crabs and other mobile invertebrates and fish that find themselves trapped for the duration.

Thousands of commercial and recreational crab pots are lost every year.

Fortunately, help is on the way due to a federally-funded program that aims to pay watermen to dredge up these ghost pots and get them out of the water column.

These pots are also magnets for fishing tackle, so fishermen should appreciate this program as well.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Oyster Recovery Partnership are now gearing up to remove thousands of these abandoned crab pots and pieces of debris from the Chesapeake Bay. Maryland’s ghost pot retrieval program is slated to begin mid-March and will help clean up the Bay,

save underwater species and increase jobs for watermen.

Check out the huge Rockfish caught recently near Virginia Beach. Fish like this one will soon return to Maryland rivers to contribute to the future of the entire Atlantic Coast population of this valuable species.

Have a question about Chesapeake Bay fishing? Send your questions to "onthewater@chesapeakecurrent.com" and we'll do our best to get you an answer.

Don't catch 'em all, Bob Munro About the Author: Bob Munro of Chesapeake Beach has been a career research biologist for the US Fish & Wildlife Service. At one time or another, he has visited every river entering the Chesapeake Bay from the Susquehanna Flats to Hampton Roads. An avid fisherman, he's fished the mid- Chesapeake since the mid-1980s.

Safe Boating Classes Scheduled The Coast Guard Auxiliary Drum Point Flotilla has scheduled its annual Boating Skills and Seamanship course to begin this month.

Classes are held at the Calvert Services Plaza, 150 Main Street, Room 102, Prince Frederick, MD across from the Calvert County Courthouse and the Lusby Motor Company.

This course of instruction is the Auxiliary’s most comprehensive. There are nine two-hour sessions beginning March 5, held on Monday and Tuesday nights from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. A final test is given during the last class session that is scheduled for April 2. The cost for materials is $30.00 per student.

Pre-registration is requested. Walk-in students are accepted on a space-available basis. To pre-register or ask for further information you may call R.T. West, FSO-PE at (410) 535-2035 or use the contact instructor website link on their web site: DrumPoint.org.

The Drum Point Flotilla reminds every Maryland resident that if you are born after July 1, 1972 this course satisfies the Maryland Department of Natural Resources requirements for operating a vessel on Maryland Waters and a Maryland DNR Certificate of Boating Safety Education will be issued upon satisfactory completion.

Serving Southern Anne Arundel, Northern Calvert and Surrounding Areas

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Thursday, March 1, 2012 15

Deanna Brooke, 40 Deanna Renee Brooke, 40, of Dunkirk, passed away at her residence on February 17, 2012. Deanna was born October 2, 1971 in Cheverly, MD to Janice Marie Lloyd. She lived in District Heights, MD until the age of five when her family moved to

Dunkirk.

Deanna attended Mt. Harmony Elementary and Northern Middle and High Schools, graduating with the class of 1990. She was employed as a school bus driver for sixteen years with the Prince George’s County Board of Education. Deanna was a lifelong member of Mt. Harmony United Methodist Church.

She enjoyed spending time with her three boys and the activities they were involved in, including Little League, T-Ball, Boys Scouts and R.O.T.C. She also enjoyed traveling with her grandparents, watching movies and listening to music.

Deanna was preceded in death by her grandfather John P. “Jack” Lloyd. She is survived by her sons Bradley Lloyd and Patrick and Kyle Brooke; mother Janice M. Lloyd; grandmother A. Genevieve Lloyd all of Dunkirk; God- mother Patty Mayhew of Upper Marlboro and God-father Robert Warunek of Wilkes Barre, PA. Services for Deanne were held at Mt. Harmony United Methodist Church, Owings. Interment followed in the church cemetery. Arrangements were

by Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., Owings.

Memorial contributions in Deanna’s memory may be made to the Memorial Fund for Deanna R. Brooke, Community Bank of Tri-County, P.O. Box 373, Dunkirk, MD 20754.

Frank Fisiorek, 68 Francis Joseph “Frank” Fisiorek, Jr., age 68, of Huntingtown, and longtime resident of Manville, NJ, passed away February 18 at Calvert Memorial Hospital in Prince Frederick. Frank was born April 4, 1943 in Pittsburgh, PA to Francis J., Sr. and Stella (Kuzminski) Fisiorek. He was raised in New Jersey and graduated from Somerville High School in Somerville, NJ. He served in the U.S. Navy from March 27, 1962 until being honorably discharged June 24, 1966 after serving aboard a guided missile destroyer during the Cuban missile crisis and having his term extended due the Viet Nam War. Frank married Judith Ann “Judy” Stombaugh June 18, 1966 and they lived in

Manville, NJ until moving to Huntingtown six years ago.

Frank was employed as a supervisor of the custodial staff of Bradley Gardens and later Hamilton Schools in New Jersey, and retired from the Bridgewater Raritan School District with over 25 years of service. He was an active member of St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Prince Frederick, and a former member of the Manville, NJ Elks Lodge # 2119.

In his leisure time, Frank was an avid bowler and Past President of the Kings and Queens League in Manville, NJ and member of the senior bowling league in Huntingtown. Frank was also an avid fan and supporter of the world champion New York Giants, and wore his Giants hats and shirts proudly.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents, and is survived by his devoted wife Judy, a son Frank James Fisiorek of Owings and his fiancé Tina, a daughter Christine Grasso and grandson Salvatore Grasso, both of St. Leonard, a sister Kathleen Zielinski and husband Dennis Reel of Indian Orchard, MA, several brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins, and his loyal companion, Buster.

Friends and family were received at Rausch Funeral Home in Owings, which handled arrangements. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. John Vianney Church, Prince Frederick. Inurnment will be in the church cemetery at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Calvert County Unit P.O. Box 752, Prince Frederick, MD 20678 or to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA 23058-5216.

Sam Genovese, 77 Salvatore “Sam” John Genovese, age 77, of Lothian, passed away on February 11, 2012 at his home. He was born September 14, 1934 in Baltimore to Joseph and Anna Frances (Bordine) Genovese. He was raised in Baltimore and attended Baltimore Public Schools.

Sam married Faye Marie Kronawetter in Baltimore September 24, 1952 and they resided in Glen Burnie until moving to Huntingtown in the early 1980’s, and later Lusby, MD. Fay passed away July 26, 2002, and Sam has resided in Lothian for the past several years.

Sam married Evelyn Marie Saunders on December 23, 2003 and they separated in 2011.

Sam was employed as a carpenter with Bay Mills Construction Company. In his leisure time Sam enjoyed hunting and fishing, and was a member of All Season Rod & Gun Club.

Sam is survived by his daughters Denise M. Weber, Debra (Debbie) A. Connell, both of Lothian, and Sandra D. Baunler of Macon, GA. Also surviving are three grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and a sister Clara Jones of Rosedale, MD. Rausch Funeral Home handled arrangements.

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Jessie Gott, 82 Jessie Mae Woodfield Gott, 82, of Galesville passed away February 17, 2012 at Heritage Harbour Health and Rehabilitation Center, Annapolis.

Jessie was born March 5, 1929 in Galesville to Albert W., Sr. and Louise M. (Hopkins) Woodfield. She was raised in Galesville where she attended Galesville Elementary, and Southern Jr. and Sr. High School in Lothian, graduating with the class of 1947. Jessie married Vernon T. Gott on March 13, 1948 and they resided in Owings until moving to Galesville in 1954.

Jessie attended the University of Maryland and was employed as a school teacher at Mayo Elementary from 1962 to 1990, primarily teaching 4th grade. She later taught math at Southern Middle School in Lothian, retiring in 1994. Upon retirement from full-time teaching Jessie worked as a substitute teacher at Southern High School in Harwood until 2007.

Along with her husband, Jessie was a longtime volunteer at Southern Jr. and Sr. High School and later at Southern High School in Harwood, where for over forty years they worked the concessions stands and ticket entrances at sporting and other events.

Jessie and Vernon had the honor of having the field house at Southern High School’s Wingate Field named in their honor in recognition of their many years of service. She also assisted at prom breakfasts for several years. Jessie was a former member of Edgewater Baptist Church where she served as a Sunday school teacher and was also active in church hospitality, and was later a member of Grace Presbyterian Church in Davidsonville. In her leisure time, Jessie enjoyed spending time with family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She was also fond of cooking and entertaining.

Jessie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Vernon T. Gott, Sr., a son Charles W. Gott, and a brother John Edward Woodfield. She is survived by her sons Vernon T. “Ted” Gott, Jr. and wife Kathy of Galesville, and David R. Gott and wife Sonia of Maryville, TN; five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren; a brother Albert W. Woodfield, Jr. of Centreville, MD and a sister Louise Morris of Severna Park, MD. Friends were received at Rausch Funeral Home in Owings, where services and a celebration of Jessie’s life were held. Interment was at Woodfield Cemetery, Galesville, and a reception for family and friends followed at the Galesville Memorial Hall.

Memorial contributions and expressions of sympathy in Jessie's name may be made to Southern Sr. High School Sports Boosters, 4400 Solomons Island Road Harwood, MD 20776.

Bourne Howes, 88 Milton Bourne Howes, age 88, of Owings, passed away at Calvert Memorial Hospital on February 22, 2012.

He was born in on the family farm in Owings on August 25, 1923 to James Milton and Grace (Bourne) Howes. Bourne attended the former Chaneyville School, learned farming from his father, and farmed the family land that has been worked by his family for more than 300 years, raising corn, hay, tobacco and cattle. Bourne participated in farm preservation programs in Calvert County, and was an active member of the Calvert County Farm Bureau.

He was a lifelong member of All Saints Episcopal Church where he served on the Vestry and on many other committees. He and his friend Leroy Dowell spent many years as the dishwashing

team for the church’s annual supper. He was also a member of the renowned All Saints Softball Team in the 1930’s.

Bourne was preceded in death by his parents, by a sister, Maria Elizabeth Howes, and by his life-long friend Leroy Dowell. He is survived by his sister, Willie Ann McKenzie and her husband William of Frostburg, MD; his devoted companion Laurie Coleman of Owings, and her children Stephen Coleman, Jr. of Huntingtown, Jason Coleman of Greensboro, NC, David Coleman of Sunderland and Amanda Coleman of Owings; two nieces and two nephews and their spouses, Nancy McKenzie and husband Ned Landis of Westminster, MD, William F. and Karen McKenzie of Green Spring, WV; Dennis and Shannon McKenzie of Ijamsville, MD and Kathryn Golightly of Ijamsville, MD. He is also survived by two grand-nephews and seven grand-nieces and spouses, Matthew Shilman of Westminster, MD, Jennifer and Jim Toothman of Mt. Juliet, TN, Jason McKenzie of Green Spring, WV, Elizabeth McKenzie and fiancé Josh Ogden of Cheat Lake, WV; Emily McKenzie of Green Spring, WV, Courtney Dickens, Alexa McKenzie and Bailey McKenzie, all of Ijamsville, MD and Allyson Golightly of Ijamsville, MD. and a great-grand-niece, Jessica Toothman of Mt. Juliet, TN. Friends and family were received at Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., in Owings, which handled arrangements. Funeral services and a celebration of Bourne’s life were held at All Saints Episcopal Church in Sunderland. Interment followed in the Bourne family lot in the parish cemetery.

Memorial contributions and expressions of sympathy in Bourne’s name may be made to All Saints Church, P.O. Box 40, Sunderland, MD 20689.

Skip Hutzler, 69 R a y m o n d Edward Hutzler “Skip”, age 69, of Huntingtown, passed away at his home February 22, 2012.

He was born December 23, 1942 in Pittsburg, PA to Raymond Edward and Doris Mae (Zimmerman) Hutzler. He was a Graduate of Parkville Senior High School class of 1960.

Raymond married Mary Frances Miller March 17, 1962.

Skip was employed by the Maryland State Highway Administration since 1961 as a technical aide and advancing to Assistant District Engineer Maintenance District 5. He was involved in the construction of the Thomas Johnson Bridge in Solomons. In 1995, he was hired as Chief of Road Operations for Anne Arundel County and retired from that position in 2004.

Skip was a man of discipline and determination. He believed in honesty, integrity and hard work. Commitment and attention to detail were his hallmark. Despite his doggedness toward tasks, Raymond possessed a sense of humor and jovialness that showed forth in wildly imaginative stories and nonsensical songs. He had lifelong passions for his home, his dogs and automobiles, spending countless hours meticulously caring for his own. Generous by nature, Raymond drew family and friends together with him warmth.

Surviving are his wife of 49 years, Mary Francis Hutzler; a son Daniel Hutzler and his wife Karen, and a daughter Renee O’Brien and her husband Jeff, all of Huntingtown; six grandchildren Kyle and Justin Hutzler and Kate, Megan, Bryant and Taylor O’Brien; a sister, Barbara Andrews, of Glen Cove, MD and brother Charles Bocklage and his wife Theresa of Hanover, PA. Rausch Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Cora Nation, 73

Margaret Ogden, 91

Cora Lee Nation, age 73, of North Beach, passed away on February 9, 2012 at her home.

She was born May 8, 1938 in Geary, Oklahoma to Ben and Vida (Roman Nose) RedBuffalo. She received her early education in Geary Schools and attended the University of Maryland at College Park. Cora served in the United States Navy from September 30, 1957 until being discharged in May 5, 1961 and has resided in Maryland since. She was married to James Nation in June of 1979 and they made North Beach their home. She was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Parish in Prince Frederick.

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

Surviving are her husband James Nation; children Donna Nicholson and her husband Jeff of Gambrills, Luke B. Nation of Washington, DC and Jacqueline R. Platt and her husband David of Pittsburg, PA; grandchildren Jennifer and Christine Nicholson of Gambrills, MD and John, Claudia, Theodore and Julia Platt of Pittsburg, PA and sisters Maxine Condulle and her husband Claude of Oklahoma City, OK, Betty White of Arapaho, OK and Mona Montassam of Albuquerque, NM

M a r g a r e t Elizabeth Bowen Ogden, 91, of Port Republic passed away on February 19, 2012 at her home. She was born in Prince Frederick on September 17, 1920 to the late Irving and Fannie M. Bowen. She had a prolonged bout of heart problems and was pre-deceased by her husband Robert Earl Ogden, Sr., son Robert Earl Ogden, Jr. and daughter Deborah Louise Johns; siblings John I. Bowen, Daisy B. Sherbert, Isaac C. Bowen, Betty Jane Bowen, Allen H. Bowen and Barbara Ann Bowen.

Margaret, along with her husband Earl, operated the Ogden’s Grocery Store in Port Republic for 30 years prior to Earl’s passing. She thoroughly loved crocheting (afghans were her specialty), bowling and the Prince Frederick Fire Dept Ladies Auxiliary. Prior to becoming ill, she was active at Christ Church in Port Republic and loved visits by family and friends. She was also an integral part of two fifth-generation occurrences.

She is survived by her daughter, Margaret Darlene Bladen and husband Melvin and sister Frances L. Rausch; grandchildren Debbie, Dell JR, Dale, Missy and Mike, 12 Rausch Funeral Home handled arrangements. great-grandchildren and 3 great-great Memorial contributions may be made in her grandchildren. name to the St. Labre Indian School, P.O. Box 216, Memorial contributions may be made to Ashland, MT 59004. the Christ Episcopal Church Memorial Fund.

Rausch Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Clarence Parker, 91

C l a r e n c e Lynwood “Woody” Parker, age 91, of Chesapeake Beach, passed away February 1, 2012 at his residence.

He was born January 22, 1921 in Bethesda, MD to Viola Mae (Broadhurst) and Clarence Isaiah Parker.

He attended Bethesda Elementary, Leland Junior High and Bethesda Chevy Chase High School. He worked as an automobile mechanic and in the mid 1940’s began his own home building company known as Parker and Parker.

He married Marjorie Breeden February 26, 1940, and they made their home and raised their family in Bethesda. In addition to being a homebuilder in the Washington area, he also built homes near the water in Anne Arundel and Calvert Counties, and had lived for the past six years in a home he remodeled in Chesapeake Beach.

He was a former member of the Bethesda United Methodist Church where he served as a deacon. In his leisure time Woody enjoyed boating, fishing, horses, and time with his family and friends. He was also known as an accomplished “fix-it” man, able to repair anything.

Woody is survived by his wife of seventy-one years, Marjorie Lee Parker; a daughter Shirley M. Hallam and husband Bill of Huntingtown; and sons Douglas W. Parker and wife Susan of Tillamook, OR, and Donald G. Parker and wife, Nicolene of Silver Spring, MD. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Tracy Oley, Daniel Hallam and Johnny and Roger Byington, and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Glenwood and Elwood Parker.

A gathering of family and friends is planned for a later date. Rausch Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Memorial contributions and expressions of sympathy in Mr. Parker’s name may be made to Calvert Hospice, P.O. Box 838, Prince Frederick, MD 20678, or online at www.calverthospice.org.

ways and always being a true friend to those who knew her. Susan loyally demonstrated her passion for the Redskins, Ravens, Orioles, Nationals and the Maryland Terrapins along with her tireless devotion and dedication to her family and grandchildren.

A memorial service where family and friends can gather to pay tribute to Susan and to share memories of her life was held at Lee Funeral Home in Owings. There will be no graveside service for Susan's cremated remains; she will live with her daughters.

The family plans a Memorial Bench in Susan's name on the North Beach Boardwalk, contribution envelopes are available for donations at Lee Funeral Home.

Sylvia Reid, 55 Sylvia Darlene Reid was born on August 16, 1956, in Washington, D.C., to the late Allnutt Reid, Jr. and Flora Hall Reid.

She passed away February 7, 2012.

Sylvia's formal education began in Washington, D.C. and ended with a high school diploma from the Sacramento, California School System. More recently she furthered her education by matriculating at the Delaware State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education.

Sylvia's marriage to Bernard Turner ended in divorce.

After completing high school, Sylvia joined

the United States Air Force where she remained for eight years. While serving our country faithfully, she received numerous awards in various categories. She was honorably discharged in 1980, and made her home in Wilmington, DE where she was employed with the Social Services Department . She came in contact with many families who needed not only material goods, but kind and encouraging words, which Sylvia gave freely.

She loved to travel and went on numerous cruises with friends and relatives. She also enjoyed reading. Sylvia was content around her family and enjoyed very much visiting "in the country" as she referred to Calvert County.

These survivors are left to cherish her memory: devoted sister, Denise D. Reid; nieces, Shannon Reid and Lorraine Adams; nephew, James Bundy; great nieces, Destiny and Cynthia; great nephews, David, DeMarkus, and Caron; aunts, Naomi Perry, Beatrice J. Fletcher, Mildred L. Bailey, Phyllis H. Reid, and Ruth N. Reid; uncles, Maurice Hall, Jesse J. Reid, Sr., Kenneth M. Bailey, Sr., and Spencer E. Sewell; God-children, Robert and Raquan Jordan; many close cousins; her extended workplace family; other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Allnutt, Jr. and Flora Reid; grandparents, Rev. Benjamin and Rosa Hall, and Allnutt, Sr. and Essie Reid; brother, Michael Reid; aunts, Mary Ross, Theresa Bowman, Rose Jackson, and Gladys Sewell (God-mother); uncles, David hall, Leslie Reid, Charles Bowman and Melvin Ross.

Visitation and funeral services were held at Sewell Funeral Home in Prince Frederick. Her final resting place is the Plum Point United Methodist Church in Huntingtown.

Susan Peters, 63 Susan Elizabeth Peters, age 63, died peacefully following a long and courageous battle with lung cancer on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 10:37 a.m. at home in Ocean Isle, North Carolina.

Susan was born in Washington, DC, the daughter of the late John "Steve" and Sally Cornelison. She was preceded in death by her brother, Steve Cornelison.

Her former husband, James Peters, resides in Ocean Isle, North Carolina. Susan will be dearly missed by her two daughters, Jaime Lynn Beisler and husband Joe of Ocean Isle, NC, Katherine Sue Cooper and husband Toby of Pomfret, MD and four grandchildren, Dylan James Beisler, Alyssa Gales, Gabrielle Cooper and Kolbey Cooper.

Susan was a 1966 graduate of Surrattsville High School in Clinton, MD. After high school she worked full time for the Federal Government in Washington, DC, retiring in April 2006 from the US Census Bureau in Suitland, MD. Since 2006, she held several positions at the Rod ‘N’ Reel Marina & Hotel and volunteered at voting polls in her North Beach community. Susan was a loyal member of the American Legion Women's Auxiliary and VFW Posts. She loved volunteering her time and meeting new people.

Susan's amazing life was blessed with love and friendships that have lasted and grown through the years. She loved to laugh and gossip and found pleasure in the simplest of things; sunrises, sunsets, the Bay, the beach and rainy days that could never take away her smile. She will be remembered in so many

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Chesapeake Current

Thursday, March 1, 2012 17

David Ritchie, 77 David B. Ritchie, 77, of Huntingtown, a businessman, who built everything from boats to garages to houses during 56 years of self-employment, died February 3, 2012 at the Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. He passed away peacefully surrounded by family.

David was born in Washington, DC in 1934 to Dr. William Suit Ritchie and Mildred Ryon Ritchie; he grew up in Ritchie, MD, now part of present day District Heights. In 1946, his family purchased a beach cottage in Calvert County where he and his sisters spent many memorable summers.

During these early summers he developed an avid interest in boating, crabbing, and fishing which he enjoyed throughout his lifetime.

Before graduating from Eastern High School in Washington, DC in 1952, he met his future wife, Esther Ann, who was enrolled in the same Spanish class. They married in 1955, the same year David began building boats in Anne Arundel County. The boat business thrived for over 20 years during which time a marina-campground was purchased in Calvert County. While operating the marina full-time, David turned his boat building skills to home building and constructed his first house in 1980. Decades of building houses and garages followed. David never retired from the construction business.

He is survived by his bride of 56 years, Esther Ann, daughter, Cheryl Ritchie, of Chesapeake Beach, son, Mark Ritchie, daughter-in-law, Kristin Ritchie, of Chesapeake Beach, granddaughter, Jordan Ritchie, and grandsons, Austin Ritchie and Luke Ritchie. He is also survived by sisters Barbara Crescenze, Nanette Stoffan, and Patricia Oliver, and many nephews and nieces, as well as a special Beagle named Sport.

Following his wishes, his remains were cremated. A memorial service will be held at Chesapeake Church, 6201 Solomons Island Road, Huntingtown, MD 20639 on March 31, 2012 at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, attendees will be encouraged to share memories about David’s life and legacy. Memorial announcements will be communicated via Facebook; search In Memory of David Grandpop Ritchie.

Micky Schaeffer, 62 Marionlee “Micky” Schaeffer died on February 18, 2012, at her home in Prince Frederick, MD, at the age of 62.

Micky was born on November 5, 1949 in Youngstown, Ohio. She has lived in Calvert

County since 1989 and worked for the Genson Insurance Agency as an Insurance Agent since 1989.

She is the loving mother of Levi and Noah Thomason and the daughter of Jeanne Schaeffer and the late Don “Pap” Schaeffer. She is the sister of Don Schaeffer, Jr., Clem Mitchell, Barbara Payne and the late Stewart Schaeffer.

Micky had a love of flower gardening, walking on the beach, looking for shark’s teeth and listening to a wide range of music. She enjoyed watching movies, playing cards and absolutely lived for spending time with family and friends. A Mother’s Day tradition was spent with the family at Camden Yards taking in an Orioles game.

Funeral services were held at Lee Funeral Home Calvert. P.A. on Thursday, February 23, 2012. Interment was at Wesley-Trinity Church Cemetery in Prince Frederick.

Memorial contributions may be made in Ms. Schaeffer’s name to: Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 6 Herndon Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21403.

Cathy Shefka, 59 Catherine Anne Shefka, known as Cathy and “Nana,” was born in 1953 in Detroit, Michigan to the late Graham and Janet Houston. She was the oldest of four children.

Cathy was raised in Detroit where she met her husband, her high school sweetheart, Brad. Cathy and Brad were married in 1972, shortly thereafter; Brad joined the Coast Guard, which led to a life of travel. Janet, their oldest daughter was born in Detroit and Erin and Leslie, their youngest were born in Connecticut.

In 1990, the family moved to Bowie where they lived for 14 years before heading to Owings where they lived until Cathy’s passing. Cathy and Brad were members of Chesapeake Church. Cathy was a pediatric lactation Registered Nurse at the Bethesda Naval Hospital. She was known to many as “Nana.” She loved to spend time with her grandchildren and enjoyed camping.

Cathy is survived by her loving husband of 40 years, Brad, their three daughters; Janet Suzanne (Kevin) Dick, Erin Marie (Kevin) Crain and Leslie Anne Shefka; her siblings, Barbara Leonard, Susan Szymanski and Mark Houston and eight grandchildren; Kayla Crain, Mazzy Dick, Brooke Crain, Keaton Dick, Korbin Dick, Jacob Crain, Steven Shefka-Dunavant and Kellum Dick.

A memorial gathering was held at Chesapeake Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Calvert Hospice, P.O. Box 838, Prince Frederick, MD 20678. Lee Funeral Home handled arrangements.

“For six generations your family has placed trust in our family’s tradition of quality service.”

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www.LeeFuneralHomes.com 18 Thursday, March 1, 2012 Chesapeake Current

Gene Schwallenberg, 48

Don Wooldridge, 66

Gene Phillip Schwallenberg, Jr., age 48, of Huntingtown, passed away January 27, 2012 at home. He was born October 5, 1963 in Prince Frederick to Gene P and Gail J. ( W a l t o n ) Schwallenberg, Sr. Gene received his education in Calvert County Schools and was a 1981 graduate of Northern High School. He was a carpenter with Chesapeake Carpentry of St. Leonard until retiring due to ill health in 2004.

Gene enjoyed hunting, fishing and being out on the water. He treasured spending time with his family especially his nieces and nephews.

Surviving are his daughter Jamie Lee Schwallenberg of St. Mary’s, parents Gene P. and Gail J. Schwallenberg, Sr. of Huntingtown, Sisters Wanda May Rogers and her husband Danny of Prince Frederick and Angela Lynn Marshall and her husband Steve of Port Republic and a brother William Russell “Rusty” Schwallenberg and his wife Margie of Lusby. Gene was preceded in death by a sister, Holly Melissa Schwallenberg, in 2008.

The family is conducting private services to celebrate Gene’s life.

Rausch Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Donald Robert “Don” Wooldridge, 66, of Dunkirk, passed away February 20, 2012 at Calvert Memorial Hospital in Prince Frederick.

Don was born October 21, 1945 in Boston, MA to Frances (Rice) and Milo A. Wooldridge. He lived with his family in various naval installations all over the world where his father was stationed, including China and Morocco, and settled in Maryland in 1961. He attended Surrattsville High School and entered the US Navy in December 1963, serving aboard Polaris guided missile nuclear submarines. He was honorably discharged in November 1969 after having his term of service extended at the request of the US Navy, and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and Submarine Deterrent Patrol Insignia. He married Beverly Ann Crawford in 1966 and they lived in Camp Springs, and the Apple Green and Twin Shields communities in Dunkirk.

Don was a businessman and entrepreneur, and held more than a dozen patented designs.

Along with his wife, he co-founded Batching Systems, Inc., an automation machinery manufacturing company that he began as a home-based business that has expanded to its current location in the Calvert Industrial Park in Barstow.

Don was a member of Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish in Owings, the N.R.A., and Safari International, a hunting organization. In his leisure time, Don enjoyed travel, spending time with his grandchildren, inventing things, Harley Davidson motorcycles, and dirt bikes.

Don was preceded in death by his parents and by his wife, Beverly. He is survived by sons David B. Wooldridge and wife Kathleen of Dunkirk and Russell J. Wooldridge and wife Lora of Owings; grandchildren Sierra, Luke, Elijah, Talon and Kaia Wooldridge; a brother Milo A. Wooldridge, Jr. of Juneau, AK, and sisters Rosemary A. Staudt and husband Ed of Leesburg, VA and Kathleen F. Farrell and husband Kirk of Stafford, VA. Friends and family were received at Rausch Funeral Home, P.A., in Owings and at Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish in Owings, where a Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated. A reception followed in the parish hall. Inurnment will be held at a later date at Lowelltown Cemetery in Clarksburg, IA. Expressions of sympathy in Don’s name may be made to Calvert Hospice at www.CalvertHospice.org.

Rausch Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Ruth Wachs, 83 Ruth Wachs, age 83, of Huntingtown, MD passed away February 21, 2012 at Calvert Memorial Hospital.

She was born March 3, 1928 in Pittsburg, PA to Samuel and Esther (Wakser) Weinstein. She was a 1944 graduate of Taylor Alderdic High School in Pittsburg and attended the University of Pittsburg majoring in history.

Ruth was married to Dr. Harry Wachs in Pittsburg in 1959.

They moved to Huntingtown in 1977 when they purchased and restored Huntingfields Manor, a historical home built in 1670.

She was an administrator for the Vision and Cognitive Development Center in Washington, DC. Ruth served as a docent for the Corcoran Gallery in Washington for over 20 years and was a member of Alpha Epsilon Phi Sorority Surviving are her husband Dr. Harry Wachs; children Bruce J. Weissman of Park City, Utah, Sherry W. Schweitzer and her husband Harvey of Bethesda, MD and Hallie W. Cohn and her husband John of Hong Kong, China; a daughter in law Tia Weissman of Mill Valley, California and grandchildren Sarah E Cohn of New York City, NY, Rachel A. Cohn of St. Louis, MO and Hanna C. Schweitzer of Bethesda, MD. A Memorial service was held at Temple Sinai, 3100 Military Rd., Washington, DC 20015. Inurnment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Maryland Chapter, 11350 McCormick Rd., Executive Plaza III, Suite 100, Hunt Valley, MD 21031.

Rausch Funeral Home handled arrangements.

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

Barbara attended Suitland High School and moved from Prince George’s Co. in 1977 to Calvert County where she was a homemaker.

She loved reading, working puzzles, and playing Bingo.

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

Rausch Funeral Home handled arrangements.

The Chesapeake Current P.O. Box 295 North Beach, MD 20714 (410) 231-0140

Two Out Of Three Definitely Ain’t Bad! Congratulations to musician Eric Scott of North Beach who picked up two out of three Washington Area Music Association Awards February 19 that he was nominated for this year. Scott won for “Best Urban Male Vocalist” and “Urban Contemporary Instrumentalist.”

Kudos, Eric!

Eric Scott

Current Chesape

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Proudly Servin

g Calvert and

February 2, 2012

Priceless

Anne Arund

el Counties

Boys & Girl What Haps Clubs: pened?

See Page 3

Local CleanestMarina in MD Dancing

See Page 14

In Your PJ’s !

See Page 18

Songs Fro m My Heart

Scan the Current Code with your smart phone to and me, especially, from the bottom of my heart hear Eric’s song, for recognizing him with a cover story. Thank “Runnin’.” you, Diane.”

“We went to the Wammies last night The other area resident nominated for a (February 19) and Rich was in such great Wammie was trumpeter Richard Harris of company. They talked about people who had Chesapeake Beach. In case you missed it, please been on that Wammie stage, like Marvin Gaye, see our 2/2/12 edition of the Chesapeake Mama Cass Elliot, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Current for the inspirational cover story of this it was just something. Rich was nominated for wonderful man suffering from Amyloidosis, a Best Jazz CD with nine other artists, one just as disease that’s not currently curable. talented as the next. Rich has such wonderful Unfortunately Richard did not win a talents: playing, composing and arranging. He Wammie, although we congratulate him for grew up in a musical family and he's being nominated in the first place, which is a unbelievably great. If you don't believe me, go tremendous honor! take a listen at www.richardharrislive.com.

Richard’s wife, Gail Harris, a well-known Another musician received the best Jazz CD, area real estate agent, gave us this update about but in my opinion, there is no one better than the Wammies (Richard was nominated for his my husband. He's he best. Congrats Richard for latest jazz album, “Songs From The Heart”): your nomination. Love you!”

“Rich is something else, for sure. It was a night to remember and I'm so glad he was Gail Harris recognized. And, we thank you so very much Chesapeake Beach Photo by Jax

Photography.

Page 12

Thanks From the Twin Beach Players A very special event took place for Twin Beach Players for Valentine’s Day at the Rod ‘N’ Reel Restaurant on February 12. Our production staff estimated originally 80 attendees for our fundraising production of ‘Love Letters’ by A. R. Gurney, presenting the wonderful talents of TV Weatherman Doug Hill and radio Metro Traffic reporter Lisa Baden.

Our surprise grew as the phone calls and PayPal payments began to mount for people making reservations. Also, happiness built as businesses in the community lent their support with donations towards our decorations and silent auction items.

We had declared a cut-off date of February 5 so as to be able to give the restaurant a food count, but are sales had become so great that we sold out our 200 seat limit two days earlier! We are so very sorry that we had to turn people away, but as said in theatre, that is always a good thing.

Twin Beach Players would like to thank Jana Barberio for her excellent organizing of this huge event. Her production qualities bring an asset to Twin Beach Players for future productions.

Thank you to George Owings, who was an excellent M.C. for the evening. George had performed ‘Love Letters’ three years past for us, and it was an honor for us to have him return and add his humor to the evening.

Thank you to Pat Carpenter for her wonderful table centerpieces and her flexibility as Jana continued to call with “Pat, we have just added another table…”

Thank you Tom Wines, our wonderful director and his wonderful assistant, Katherine Willham.

Owner, Executive Editor and Publisher: Diane Burr News: Send news and calendar items to: editor@ChesapeakeCurrent.com Advertising Sales: email: ads@ChesapeakeCurrent.com. Also, call account executives Clare O’Shea (301) 873-5885 or Bill Nomikos at (410) 610-0510 direct.

Friend the Chesapeake Current on Facebook and visit our breaking news site, www.ChesapeakeCurrent.com.

For regional events and ideas for stay-cations, friend our sister publication, the Chesapeake Bay Tripper on Facebook or visit us online at www.ChesapeakeBayTripper.com.

Current Contributors: Jay Armsworthy Brian McDaniel Anna Chaney Bob Munro Sid Curl William "Billy" Poe Cheryl Emery Clare O'Shea Nick Garrett Susan Shaw Jenny Kellner Lynda Striegel Jay Lounsbury Teresa Zanelotti-Whitten The Chesapeake Current is THE ONLY locally-owned and independently operated, bi-weekly media outlet in our area. We serve all of Calvert County and Southern Anne Arundel County.

Don’t be confused – we are not associated with anyone else.

None of our content is syndicated – it’s all local and all about our communities.

The Chesapeake Current is available in 175+ high-traffic locations throughout our readership area, and is completely supported by ad revenue. We are a “priceless” or free publication.

Want a subscription so you always stay Current? Call (410) 231-0140 for information.

In this issue, there are NO authorized inserts. If you find any, please contact us immediately and we will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law for theft of services.

The Chesapeake Current is owned by Bayside Partners, LLC, which is solely responsible for the form, content and policies of the newspaper.

Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. No content or images may be used for any reason without express written permission.

Traffic Reporter Lisa Baden of Rose Haven and Weatherman Doug Hill of Huntingtown perform “Love Letters” by A.R. Gurney.

Thanks to our Youth Troupe members who pitched in as hostesses and hosts for seating and dessert serving.

Again thank you to Doug Hill and Lisa Baden. You brought great talent to us and entertained our audience to full potential.

Thanks to Wesley Donovan of Rod ‘N’ Reel Restaurant and his hard working staff. Mr. Donovan kindly donated the room for free and his staff was certainly a compliment to the evening. We received so many compliments on the food and the presentation of such.

The business community of the Beaches and the area certainly deserve our thanks for their many donations and continuing support of Twin Beach Players.

And our lasting appreciation and thanks to the attending audience. We can’t do theatre without you. Your support of your local theatre group keeps theatre alive in the Beaches.

Sid Curl, President Twin Beach Players

Chesapeake Current

Thursday, March 1, 2012 19

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The Chesapeake Current is the ONLY locally-owned newspaper in our area. And we keep your customers HERE – we don’t try to send them to St. Mary’s County!

Ads in the Chesapeake Current, whether display ads, classifieds and on our new website, www.ChesapeakeCurrent.com are very affordable and truly work to get your message out to all of Calvert County and Southern Anne Arundel County as well!

We live and breathe “buy local,” and support you and our communities in so many ways.

For more info, email ads@ChesapeakeCurrent.com or call Account Executives Clare O’Shea today at (301) 873-5885 or Bill Nomikos at (410) 610-0510.

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yes, and after a long road trip, here he is! And Junior isn't about to look back, either; he keeps looking forward to the better life that he knows is in store for him. Junior has so much potential. Junior has spent time with little kids and he's great with them, so he would make a good family dog. Junior is athletic as can be, so if you wanted to get him involved in agility or other sports, he would do well there. Junior is also affectionate, so if you decided that maybe a dog that just wants to hang out and cuddle is more your style, he could be conditioned to be a couch snuggler. Oh, and class clown. That would be a role to fit Junior as well. Junior is in a foster home with other dogs and he loves playing with them. Did we mention that he's very funny and he keeps his foster family laughing? Junior would really be a great dog for any home, and after his journey, he's ready to settle down into one.

For more information, please visit www.HumaneSocietyOfCalvertCounty.org or visit all the animals available in person at the Humane Society of Calvert County, 2210 Dalrymple Road in Sunderland.

Phone: (410) 257-4908. Be sure to say you saw Junior in the Chesapeake Current!

Take me home!

Cookie Cookie is a stray (spayed) female domestic long hair cat, estimated to be about five years old. She weighs 9.8 pounds and is a beautiful black tiger, with a hint of brown and a white bib.

Get A New Job! Resumes, cover letters, online career profiles and freelance writing services. Fast turnaround, reasonable rates, local references available. Free initial consulta- Samson tion. Email chesapeakeresumes@gmail.com.

Samson is a handsome boy, given up by his family. He’s a Notices two-year-old white Labrador Local artists are wanted to display their work at Retriever breed, altered, and weighs the Chesapeake Beach Town Hall atrium and at the 89 pounds.

Twin Beaches Library. Interested artists should call For more information about (301) 855-2283 for more information. these or any of the many other lovable animals currently needing Pets homes, contact Anne Arundel County Animal Control at Meet Junior!

(410) 222-8900. Be sure to say you saw them in the What an exciting life Junior Chesapeake Current! has led, and he's only six months Adoption is first-come, first-served. Animals that old! Junior came from Indiana, come in as strays must be held for a five-day period, and where the HSCC was asked to help no pets will be held based on phone calls. All pets are out by taking one of many dogs spayed and neutered before leaving Animal Control. Ages rescued by another group from a and breeds are based on the evaluation of kennel vet techs. not-so-pretty situation. We said

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20 Thursday, March 1, 2012 Chesapeake Current

Chesapeake Current Music Calendar Have an upcoming music event you’d like listed here? Email details to Editor@ChesapeakeCurrent.com.

Friday, March 2 Katie and Logan Acoustic Duo: First FREE Friday performance at the Calvert Marine Museum at Solomons. The museum is open free to the public from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. with trained docents in each gallery. Entertainment by Katie and Logan Acoustic Duo begins at 7:00 p.m. featuring two acoustic guitars, a little harmonica, ukulele, etc. along with dynamic vocal harmonies. Celebrate Youth Art Month with a reception in the lobby featuring works by local Calvert County students.

Saturday, March 3 Hey Sailor! A musical romp through centuries of dirty ditties and bawdy ballads you can sing along with. Hosted by local musician Janie Meneely and presented by Wammie-award winning ethnomusicologist Jennifer Cutting and her merry band of musicmakers. The one-night-only performance will be held at the Galesville Memorial Hall on Saturday, March 3 from 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance ($18 cash); $25 at the door.

Perhaps better known for her Ocean Orchestra, Cutting strays from the straight and narrow world of traditional folk music and delves into the dark corners of medieval brothels, Colonial taverns, British pubs and public schoolyards to uncover a feistier tradition full of sexual innuendo and explicit lyrics. Joining her on stage is a host of special guests. Warning: Do not attend if you are offended by sexually explicit material. Show will contain profanity. No recording devices allowed. This is an adults-only performance. Refreshments, beer and wine will be sold. For more information or to order tickets, contact Janie Meneely at (443) 786-0463 or janiemeneely@gmail.com.

Sunday, March 4 COSMIC Symphony at 3:00 p.m. in the auditorium of Southern High School, 4400 Solomons Island Rd. (MD Rt. 2), Harwood.

Presented by the South County Concert Association. COSMIC Symphony, directed by Vladimir Lande, is a community orchestra based in Southern Maryland that presents three full programs per year as well as special, seasonal events. In addition to a full symphony orchestra, COSMIC also features a community flute choir that rehearses and performs throughout the year and also welcomes new members. The concert is free to subscribers of the South County Concert Association and the Anne Arundel Community Concert Association, and $20 per non-subscriber. For additional information contact F. R. Gouin at (301) 261-5802 or www.southcountyconcerts.org.

Saturday, March 10 Heartstring Quartet: in the Calvert Marine Museum Auditorium at Solomons. The Celtic Society of Southern Maryland in partnership with the Museum presents the Heartstring Quartet, on Saturday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the museum auditorium.

Tickets are $25 each and may be purchased at www.cssm.org.

Sunday, March 11 Celebrate Spring With A Free Community Hymn Sing The members, friends, and sanctuary choirs of Carter's and Friendship United Methodist Churches invite you to join them for their annual Hymn Sing, Sunday March 11, at 1:00 p.m., at Friendship UMC. Raise the rafters with your favorite sacred music. Free! Donations are welcome to benefit the SCAN Food Bank in Lothian. Friendship Methodist is one block east of Friendship Circle on Route 2, 1.3 miles north of the traffic light at Route 2 and 260 in Owings. www.friendshipmethodistchurch.org.

Calvert’s Got Great Talent

By Jenny Kellner

I

f you’ve attended a function at the Mary Harrison Center at Northern High School in the past few years, you have likely been entertained by Jeffrey Phelps. He is always on the job, working the lighting and sound aspects of a production. Not only is Jeffrey a senior who is part of the center’s tech crew, he is a paid employee of the school system. He works to make shows run smoothly when an outside organization rents the MHC for an event.

This 17-year-old entrepreneur is now the proud owner of Phelps Productions, because Jeff is no stranger to working hard and earning money. He doesn’t always work behind the scenes, either. As a magician and entertainer, Jeff has been delighting children and adults since age 12 at birthday parties, corporate events and local county fairs. He took his understanding of the magician’s needs a step further and began constructing and selling equipment to fellow magicians, including Michael Cox, Jeff’s magical mentor. Mr. Cox is known to many in the area as Wild Willy Woo Woo. At a young age, this go-getter has managed to do what so many fellow adults are leery to do, set up an independent enterprise.

“The paperwork was tremendous, especially since I work so much with children. There are extra forms for insurance and liability. It was very hectic,” Jeffrey recalled. He was guided by his dad, who has experience as the owner of Cave to Castle Remodeling. His mother is very supportive fills the role of producer of the producer.

Jeffrey’s work ethic is admirable. “I am my own boss,” he says. “By working hard I have the ability to choose how much income I receive. Nobody can tell me how much money I can or cannot make in a week, month, or year. This helps me to stay focused and on task.”

Jeff has had a “charge” position in every school play since he was a freshman, serving as head of the tech crew, producer, head of advertising, or stage crew leader. He was also

Jeffrey Phelps, owner of Phelps Productions, with Northern High School Principal, Dr. Sylvia Lawson at this year’s National Honor Society induction ceremony.

the announcer for the school’s Patriot Classic, a marching band competition for bands from around the region. As a member of the National Honor Society, a student with over 3000 volunteer hours served, and this year’s Lord Calvert at the Calvert County Fair, Jeff has much to be proud of.

This businessman is also among Calvert County’s youngest philanthropists. Jeff produced and starred in “An Evening of Magic” in 2010 to raise funds for equipment at the Mary Harrison Center. This year he has created and produced a new show, “Calvert’s Got Talent.” A percentage of the proceeds will go to various fine arts programs in the county’s schools.

For “Calvert’s Got Talent,” Jeff pitched to idea to his principal, Dr. Lawson. With her support, he then went through all of the channels to get the support of the Board of Education. The show was promoted, and over 100 acts showed up to audition. Initial auditions were followed by an elimination round. Only 25 acts have made it to the big show, which will be held on Saturday, March 3 at 7:00 p.m. at the Mary Harrison Center.

Acts are competing for a $1,000 first place prize.

The show is open to the public and tickets can be purchased at the door. They are only $10.00 for adults and $8.00 for students and seniors. Other entertaining acts will be sprinkled in among the competitors to contribute to an evening that promises to full of excitement and energy.

About the Author: Jenny Kellner is a mother, teacher and Girl Scout leader. She lives in North Beach with her husband, Joe, and their four children, and serves on the town’s Historic Preservation Commission.

Bluegrass with Larry Sparks with sound provided by the one and only Troy Jones, at the American Legion Post 238 in Hughesville, at the corner of Rts. 381 & 23. Doors open at noon with the show beginning at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $15.00 per person, with food available before the show begins. For more information, tickets, and directions, go to www.americanlegionbluegrass.com or call (301) 737-3004. Pre-purchased tickets will be held at the door for pick up on the day of the show. Also, non-perishable food donations will be accepted for the Helping Hands Food Bank in Southern Maryland.

Vocalist Jennifer Cooper performs at the CSM Ward Virts Concert Series at 3:00 p.m., March 11, College of Southern Maryland, Prince Frederick Campus, Room 119, 115 J.W. Williams Road, Prince Frederick. Cooper will be accompanied by Michael Santana and James Witherite on piano. Open seating. Free. (443) 550-6011, rfleming@csmd.edu or www.csmd.edu/Arts.

The Ward Virts Concert Series is presented by Edward and Patricia Mehosky, St. Clair and Mary Tweedie, Gerry Van De Velde and Rene Cunningham and CSM.

Chesapeake Current

Thursday, March 1, 2012 21

Out&About Thursday, March 1

Friday, March 2

Fairies in the Garden Deadline: Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center says March 1 is the deadline to submit an application to build a fairy or gnome home for the 3rd Annual Fairies in the Garden exhibit.

Individuals and/or groups, advanced to beginner architects and builders, are invited to participate in this magical exhibit, but they must complete the short application form and send it to Annmarie office by the close of business.

To learn more, call (410) 326-4640, email info@annmariegarden.org or visit www.annmariegarden.org.

Clarisse’s Famous Baked Fish Dinner: Informal dinner from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. hosted by the American Legion 206 Auxiliary, in the lower-level dining room on Route 260 in Chesapeake Beach. Public warmly welcomed. The cost is $10, including salad and beverage. www.ALPost206.org.

Artworks@7th in North Beach is moving to 9100 Bay Avenue #104. It reopens March 1 with a show by Carol Wade and Rita Metro, "Shoes and Booze" and will host a reception on March 3 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 3 Bird Migrations: 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, 1361 Wrighton Road, Lothian. Where do they go in winter?

Join Sanctuary naturalist Emma Boyer to learn about bird species found in summer at the Sanctuary and where they go in winter. The talk will be followed by a hike to search for early birds returning to our area. For adults and children 12 and older. Call (410) 741-9330 for more information.

All-You-Can Eat Spaghetti Dinner and Bake Sale: The Lothian Ruritan Club’s event will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, 122 Bayard Rd., Lothian, MD. In addition to the all-youcan-eat salad bar and home-baked Italian garlic bread, there will be four spaghetti sauces: vegetarian, ground beef, ground turkey and ground beef with Italian sausage. Desert will include home-baked gingerbread with lemon

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sauce. All proceeds will be donated to the SCAN food bank. The bake sale will include homemade pies, cakes, cookies, brownies and squares. The proceeds from the bake sale will benefit the Maryland Veteran's Home at Charlotte Hall. Admission: $10 for adults, $5 for children 6-12 years, with kids under 6 free.

Rudy Bear will be on hand to delight the children. Also, Bluebird houses made the members of the Lothian Ruritan Club will also be on sale for $15 each.

Vernal Pool Research Field Day: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, 1361 Wrighton Road, Lothian. Spring comes early for some very special amphibians. Join us for a day in the field exploring the temporary ponds where wood frogs and salamanders breed.

Participants will learn about vernal pool ecology and how to participate in our Adopt-a-Pool research project. For adults and families. Free entrance. (Program will be repeated if pools are not filled.) Call (410) 741-9330 for info.

Calvert’s Got Talent: Over 100 turned out to audition, and it’s been narrowed down to the top 25 acts for the big show, on Saturday, March 3 at 7:00 p.m. at the Mary Harrison Center next to Northern High School on Chaneyville Road in Owings. Acts are competing for a $1,000 first place prize. The show is open to the public and tickets can be purchased at the door: $10.00 for adults and $8.00 for students and senior citizens.

A Night of Dancing: With live music by the Snakebite Band from 8:00 p.m. to midnight at

the American Legion Post in Chesapeake Beach.

Sponsored by the Sons of the American Legion, the Public is warmly welcome (21 and over please). The cost of $25 per person includes rail drinks, sodas, and snacks. www.ALPost206.org.

Wednesday, March 7 Cinema Café: Join Calvert Library Prince Frederick for the inspiring movie about a small town high school basketball team in Indiana as they compete for a state championship. The film loosely tells the story of the team in rural Milan, Indiana that became the pride of all Hoosiers. The film stars two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman, and is rated PG. Lights go down at 6:00 p.m. and the film will be followed by a short discussion ending by 8:30 p.m.

Light refreshments and coffee will be served.

For more information, call Robyn Truslow at (410) 535-0291 or (301) 855-1862.

Friday, March 9 Fundraiser for Jim Hitchcock’s Medical Expenses: Food, fun and entertainment.

Entry by Donation includes draft beer, sodas, & light snacks. Music by DJ Rob Ogle and Calvert’s own Rockin’ Elvis, Jim Godbold.

Silent auction including jewelry, automotive stuff, glasses, and much, much more. At the American Legion Stallings-Williams Post 206 in Chesapeake Beach from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.

Public welcome. www.ALPost206.org.

Saturday, March 10 Volunteer Workshop: at the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum. The museum is looking for volunteers to help with outreach programs and be station masters who meet and greet visitors and help spread the word. Come learn how to get involved at 10:00 a.m. Lunch will be provided and there will be a field trip afterwards!

Country Dance: For a fun time, come to the American Legion 206 in Chesapeake Beach. If you can't dance, teachers will be available to give instruction. One-hour lessons begin at 7:00 p.m. followed by dancing from 8:00 p.m. until midnight. The modest price of $15.00 per person includes soft drinks or draft beer and light munchies. In the upper-level ballroom.

Public warmly welcomed. www.ALPost206.org.

Sunday, March 11 All-U-Can-Eat- Breakfast: Spring is in the air!

Start the day with a hearty breakfast including hot cakes, sausage, scrapple, bacon, scrambled eggs, home fries, biscuits, fruit, and chipped beef.

Hosted by the American Legion Auxiliary from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the dining hall in Chesapeake Beach on Route 260. Open to the public. Adults $10; kids 6-12 $5; kids under 6 free. Bloody Marys will be available for a nominal charge. www.ALPost206.org.

Monday, March 12 Canine Companions for Independence will present a program at 10:00 a.m. at the South Anne Arundel County Senior Activity Center, 27 Stepneys Lane, Edgewater. This is one of the nonprofit organizations the center’s “Hearts of Gold FUNraisers” have chosen for support this year. Participants can learn about this remarkable group that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships.

March Dance Classes in Davidsonville The Davidsonville Dance Club, a non-profit organization, is planning a series of new dance classes for March.

Beginning Tuesday, March 6 for eight weeks, there will be classes beginning at 6:30 p.m. for Intermediate Rumba and at 7:45 p.m. for Intermediate Cha Cha. These are taught by a professional instructor, and are for couples only who are experienced dancers looking for variations and routines for variety. The cost is $60 plus $10 membership fee for the year 2012. For information, call (301) 262 0347.

Beginning Wednesday, March 7 for eight weeks, the Davidsonville Dance Club will hold a 7:00 p.m. class in Salsa (Basic I) and at 8:00 p.m. Foxtrot (Basic II). Classes are taught by a professional instructor and no partner is required. The cost is $60 plus $10 membership fee for the year 2012. For information call (301) 809-0288.

Beginning Friday, March 23 for eight weeks there will be a 7:00 p.m. Viennese Waltz (Basic II) and 8:00 p.m. Paso Doble (Basic I). International Style is taught by a professional instructor, with no partner required. The cost per class is $60 plus $10 membership fee for the year 2012. For information, call (410) 257-0631.

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