2011-10-06 Calvert Gazette

October 6, 2011

Priceless

Gazette Calvert

Everything Calvert County

Breast Cancer Hits Home For Commissioners Page 12 Photo by John Douglass

The Calvert Gazette

Also Inside

Thursday, October 6, 2011

2

On T he Cover

Jenna Fowler of Waldorf was one of 538 run3 County News ners and walkers that completed the second annual Breast Cancer Run/Walk put on by Cal6 Community vert Memorial Hospital on Saturday in Solomons. The event raised $15,000.

8 Military State News 9 10 Education 11 History community Nickey, of Lusby, with Skipper the dog dressed as Elvis, and his granddaughter, Jackie Cover Story David 12 Wakefield, enjoyed last year’s “That Doggone Tiki Bar Family Pet Day.” The event is coming 13 Business back around this year on Oct. 16.

14 Sports 15 Letters 16 Crime & Punishment 18 Obituaries On Water 19 20 Games 21 Locals out & about Out and About newsmakers 22 FOR EVENTS HAPPENING IN High School Academy of Finance students ask Justin Ruest about his years YOUR AREA, CHECK PAGE 22 23 Entertainment Calvert at University of Maryland. Senior Kirsten Sellers, left, Ruest and Senior Sierra Pitts.

Ruest has settled in Calvert and is dedicated to working with youth.

and l s I s on Solom eport Tide R

IN OUT AND ABOUT

October 6 - 12 2011 Day

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

Th 6 Low 5:22 AM 0.4 7:06 AM Set 1:56 AM 6 High 10:31 AM 1.4 6:42 PM Rise 3:50 PM 6 Low 4:48 PM 0.4 6 High 11:23 PM 1.7 F 7 Low 6:08 AM 0.4 7:07 AM Set 2:57 AM 7 High 11:32 AM 1.4 6:40 PM Rise 4:19 PM 7 Low 5:51 PM 0.4

% Moon 67

76

Sa 8 High 12:10 AM 1.6 7:08 AM Set 3:55 AM 8 Low 6:47 AM 0.4 6:39 PM Rise 4:46 PM 8 High 12:28 PM 1.5 8 Low 6:48 PM 0.4

84

Su 9 High 12:51 AM 1.6 7:09 AM Set 4:53 AM 9 Low 7:20 AM 0.4 6:37 PM Rise 5:12 PM 9 High 1:18 PM 1.6 9 Low 7:39 PM 0.4

90

M 10 High 1:28 AM 1.5 7:10 AM Set 5:49 AM 10 Low 7:49 AM 0.3 6:36 PM Rise 5:38 PM 10 High 2:03 PM 1.6 10 Low 8:27 PM 0.4

95

Tu 11 High 2:02 AM 1.5 7:11 AM Set 6:46 AM 11 Low 8:15 AM 0.3 6:34 PM Rise 6:06 PM 11 High 2:43 PM 1.7 11 Low 9:13 PM 0.4

98

W 12 High 2:35 AM 1.4 7:12 AM Set 7:43 AM 12 Low 8:40 AM 0.2 6:33 PM Rise 6:35 PM 12 High 3:20 PM 1.8 12 Low 9:57 PM 0.4

99

3

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, October 6, 2011

COUNTY NEWS

Oyster Season Begins with Storm Pollution, But Hope for Profit

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer A large silt bloom stirred up by the wrath of Hurricane Irene and then Tropical Storm Lee in the upper Chesapeake Bay has Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officials concerned that oyster beds will suffer for being covered over, but at least one watermen says that shortages of the sought after bi-valve in the south means that those harvested here may fetch higher prices.

Tommy Zinn, president of the Calvert County Waterman’s Association, said that Mississippi had closed the oyster season due to storm damage and both Louisiana and Texas had high mortality rates, which could spell trouble for shuck houses and restaurants who depend on the Gulf state supply to keep their businesses going.

Tommy Zinn, president of the Calvert County Waterman’s Association, is hopeful this year’s oyster harvest continues a positive trend.

“They produce 50 percent of the oysters consumed in the mid-Atlantic region,” Zinn told The Calvert Gazette. “The price should be a little higher this year.”

On the first day of the season, Oct. 3, Zinn said he had spoken with only two oystermen about their day’s catch and the results, while not outstanding, were respectable.

“The oysters appear to be in good shape; they got an average day’s catch,” Zinn said. “What they’re not seeing is a bunch of dead oysters.”

Diseases like MX and dermo have decimated the native oyster population in the region for more than two decades but now, he said, watermen have noticed that oyster mortality seems to have abated, lending credence to reports by DNR officials that oysters may be developing a level of resistance to the pathogens.

“They’re holding their own … and we’re not having the die-offs we used to have,” Zinn said, adding that only about 10 percent of the watermens’ historic numbers roamed the estuary these days searching for oysters.

He said this was one of the reasons for

reports in recent years of oysters being at only one percent of their historic levels in the bay.

“Naturally your harvest is going to be smaller,” he said.

Mike Naylor, assistant director of DNR fisheries division, said that his department would have a better idea of how the season might turn out by the end of the week when more watermen reported in.

The silt f lowing from the Susquehanna River into the bay was staggering he said, and scientists were anxious about its possible impacts.

“We’re all curious as to how that will play out, it’s not over,” Naylor said.

Unable to make predictions, Naylor said, their is little evidence to expect a great change, positive or negative, in the outcome of the season this year.

“It’s very difficult to predict,” he said.

For Zinn, news that conditions for oysters were about the same as in recent years is still good news.

“Even being no worse is positive,” he said.

Solar Panel Lease Program Available

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Constellation Energy and a subsidiary BGE Home, are now offering a program that can allow homeowners to have solar panels installed at their homes without having to pay for the entire cost of the project upfront.

Bob Nagy, general manager of the Energy Improvement Products division of BGE Home, said that having solar panels installed at home can run as much as $40,000 in one sum, but the new solar lease program allows homeowners to have monthly payments for up to 20 years.

“It’s prohibitive for most of us,” Nagy said

of solar panel installation. “But the more you put down [as a prepay on the lease] the less you have in monthly payments.”

The cost of the lease is based on the amount of solar panels installed at the home, which in Maryland means that they would likely be installed on the roof, Nagy said.

The size of the roof, the space available on it and its position relative to the sun — a roof facing directly south without any shading is ideal — and level of electrical energy used by the household are all determining factors in the final construction of the panels, he said.

If a homeowner chooses to participate, the installers assess the home’s position via global

mapping system then go to the site for more in depth study of how to best configure the panels before finally ordering them.

The entire process to complete the installation can take between six to eight weeks, Nagy said.

Energy replacement that the panels offer residents can be impressive, Nagy said, but they should not count on being independent of the electrical grid.

“You can get up to 100 percent [replacement]; I’m not going to say it’s the norm but in Maryland its usually 50 percent,” Nagy said.

The panels once installed have few moving parts, he said, and do not sit on motors that

rotate to follow the sun — the position of the panels is set to take optimal advantage of time to absorb the sun’s rays as it tracks across the sky, Nagy said, and because they are simple in construction they are low maintenance.

“They’re constantly monitored [by BGE Home],” he said. “And mother nature naturally takes care of them.”

The company’s Web site, www.bghome. com offers more information as well as a questionnaire for homeowners to fill out to determine the likely scope of the project at their property. guyleonard@countytimes.net

Public to Weigh in on Calvert County Water and Sewerage Plan

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners and the Calvert County Planning Commission will hold a joint public hearing on Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. to discuss proposed updates to the Calvert County Water and Sewerage Plan.

The plan includes updated statistics, demographics and water and sewer data. Also included are updated county policies and actions to match the 2010 Comprehensive Plan, which includes the water resources element. Accompanying the changes to the body of the plan are changes to the water and sewer maps and service categories requested by the county and by individual property owners.

Calvert County Principal Planner Patricia Haddon said the last plan was adopted in 2008, and the county has to update the state every year on the plan. A complete revision has to be completed every two years, Haddon said, and the most recent one began in 2010.

In addition to the updates, Haddon said the county will be doing map amendments in conjunction with the plan. The map amendments include category changes to allow public water and sewer to service greater amounts of people or larger areas.

There are currently four map amendments under consideration: • The employment center on Tate Road in Prince Fredrick and Hallowing Park LLC, both looking for local water and sewage; • Dares Beach Subdivision, looking for local sewage, and

• The St. Leonard Town Center, looking for local water.

Hearing Room at Courthouse Square, 205 Main Street in All of the map amendments include the addition of local Prince Frederick. Those interested may view the actual changwater or sewage systems, which Haddon said has to be moni- es in their entirety online at www.co.cal.md.us or by contacting tored carefully. The presence of public sewer promotes con- the Calvert County Department of Planning and Zoning at 410centrated population growth, something the county is trying 535-1600, ext. 2356 or 301-855-1243, ext. 2356. to avoid. Too many people in one place can lead to problems in the event of an evacuation, where the main highway is the only artery out of Calvert County. There are also safety concerns associated with large-scale growth.

“Really, it’s only one road in and out,” Haddon said.

Unfortunately, Haddon Auto Accidents said the nature of the county’s Workers’ comp landscape doesn’t allow for another highway to be added eas• Divorce/Separation ily. MD Route 2/4 is on a ridge, • Support/Custody with cliffs to one side and ra• Domestic Violence vines to the other.

• Criminal/Traffic Unlike public sewer, Had• DWI/MVA Hearings don said the county doesn’t try Power of Attorney Scan this “Times Code” to limit public water systems. with your smart phone • Name Change • Adoption “It’s better one straw in • Wills • Guardianship the ground than 50,” Haddon Accepting: said.

The hearing will be held 99 Smallwood Dr. Waldorf, MD • 206 Washignton Ave. LaPlata, MD in the Planning Commission SERVING CHARLES • ST. MARY’S • PG • CALVERT (301) 932-7700 (301) 870-7111

Free InItIal ConsultatIon

The law offices of P.a. Hotchkiss & associates Providing Excellent Service For Over 20 Years

COUNTY NEWS Experts To Assist with Ancestor Research Join us on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 10 a.m. at Calvert Library Prince Frederick to welcome a former Calvert Librarian and Reference Supervisor, Kathie Eichfeld who will help participants search for information about their ancestors.

Eichfeld has years of experience compiling biographical and genealogical data and will present the genealogy databases available at Calvert Library. She will also show other websites that can help with the search.

Along with Eichfeld, Conni Evans who has done extensive research overseas can answer questions on the strategies to use when searching for far-flung forebears.

For more information, please call Calvert Library at 301-855-1862 or 410-535-0291 or visit us online at http://calvert.lib.md.us.

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, October 6, 2011

4

Event Planned to Help Starving Horses

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer This Saturday in Huntingtown local horse experts and business are hosting a fundraiser for the 135 starving Polish Arabian Horses rescued this spring from a breeding farm in Queen Anne County.

Local veterinarian Dr. Linda Molesworth took in a pregnant horse and her colt from that rescue operation sponsored by Days End Farm Horse Rescue, a regional organization out of Lisbon, MD. This past June, Rosie Wynne-Meador and her riding students raised over $1,000 for the local horses. Now she is part of a larger fundraising effort scheduled rain or shine October 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Dr. Molesworth’s Fresh Meadow and Bay Equine location.

“Dr. Moleworths will give new owner and new rider seminars, give tours and be on hand all day to answer questions,” said Wynne-Meador.

The horse Mary and her colt Joey, from the Queen Anne rescue, will be on there for people to see. Unfortunately the colt from Mary’s pregnancy didn’t survive. Freedom Hill, another rescue organization out of Owings, will be there with the two mustang foals rescued from Calvert on Sept. 11 this year.

The admission is free to the public. The day’s events include live music by local country musician Anthony Ryan, pony rides, food, music, kid’s crafts, raffles, demonstrations, a parade of breeds, “horse-pie bingo”, a moon bounce, vendor booths, seminars by Equine Veterinarian Dr. Linda Molesworth, a Corey Jackson Horsemanship trail riding clinic, and more.

“Horse-pie bingo is one of the funniest

events you’ll see. We paint 100 squares in the paddock and sell each for $5. People will be hanging over the railing trying to get the horse into their square. Sometimes it goes fast and other times it goes slow,” said Wynne-Meador.

The free entry into the event is educate the public on how to take care of their horses or to recognize when a horse is being neglected.

“People may see a horse that’s skin and bones but they don’t want to make the call to get their neighbor’s in trouble. But there could be any number of reasons a horse is in that condition. It could be neglect. It could be lack of knowledge or the owner lost their job and had to make the choice between feeding their children or their horse.”

Horse Rescue organizations exist to get the horse the help it needs. These organizations have everything needed from veterinarians to volunteers to make sure a horse is well cared for and a place to stay until a new owner can be found.

“We need volunteers for just about anything. Grooming, feeding, cleaning stalls, fencing, barn repair and socializing and giving the horses the love and attention,” said Photo courtesy of Days End Farm Horse Rescue Wynne-Meador.

Wynne-Meador has been overwhelmed by tunity to touch and learn about the horses. the community’s response so far.

“Our silent auction will have a team signed “I’m real excited about how the members of the community have stepped up to the plate. Capitols jersey and two tickets to a game. It should be a lot of fun for the whole family.

People have been so generous.”

So generous that before the event has even We’ll have sheep, goats and a petting zoo,” said taken place, they have raised more than they did Molesworth.

The address of the event is 2195 Huntingin June. The money from the event is coming from vendors, raffles, silent auctions and dona- town Creek Road, Huntingtown. The contact number is 301-233-3225. tion boxes set up around the site.

Fresh Meadows has in-door facilities, so corrin@somdpublishing.net rain or shine, come out to the event for an oppor-

Local Wins ‘Dream Seats’ to 2012 Concerts League of Women Voters Bozick Distributors, Inc., a Calvert Marine Museum sup“Proceeds from the shows keep our programs going and porter for over 16 years, donated and raffled four front row seats our doors open, and we have our local community to thank for Hosts Forum on Nuclear to each of the museum’s 2012 concerts. that,” said Gill.

“These four seats are the best in the house and we were The Waterside Music Series is made possible with the genSafety at Calvert Cliffs happy to again sponsor the raffle to help the museum raise mon- erous support of many local businesses, including Prince Fredey needed to continue preserving our local heritage and support erick Ford/Dodge, Coors, Coors Light, Killians (Bozick Distribeducation programs” Kenny Irwin of Bozick Distributors said utors), All American Harley-Davidson, The ShowPlace Arena, in a press release.

Quality Built Homes, and The McNelis Group.

Bozick Distributors/Coors Light employees manned a tent at the Calvert Marine Museum concerts this summer and pro- Calvert Marine Museum Director Doug Alves, left, is with grand prize winner Michelle Weisburgh, Kenny Irwin of Bozick Distributors and Vanessa moted the raffle to all attendees.

Gill, museum development director.

“Tickets were sold for $5 each or $10/for three, and they did an amazing job promoting the raffle to our concert-goers – It was a real success,” said Vanessa Gill, Development Director. “They also sweetened the pot by donating Coors giveaway items for each concert, including apparel, outdoor umbrellas, and tailgating grills.”

Michelle Weisburgh of Chesapeake Beach was the grand prize winner of the four front row seats. Weisburgh grew up in Calvert County, but has lived out of the area for several years. She is thrilled to be back, works as a Pharmacist for Target, and looks forward to attending the 2012 shows at the Calvert Marine Museum.

The concert series at the Calvert Marine Museum has been providing top names in entertainment for 26 years.

The recent nuclear accident at Fukushima Daiichi in Japan has raised concerns in the United States regarding the safety of reactors. The Forum will examine whether factors that led to the Fukushima disaster have any effect on the safety of the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant. The Leagues are conducting this Forum as a public service in response to concerns raised by citizens of Southern Maryland.

This free public education forum will be held Thursday, Oct. 6, from 7-9 p.m.. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., at Calvert Marine Museum, 14150 Solomons Island Road, Solomons.

Forum Content and Format • A balanced Panel of distinguished and diverse experts will discuss how factors that affected the Fukushima plant are applicable or not applicable at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant.

• The format includes presentations by Panel members, followed by a question-and-answer session with questions submitted from the audience.

• The format and ground rules were developed by the Leagues of Women Voters.

Sponsors • League of Women Voters of Calvert County (calvert. lwvmd.org • 410-586-2176) • League of Women Voters of St. Mary’s County (smc. lwvmd.org) • Center for the Study of Democracy, St. Mary’s College • Concerned Black Men of Calvert County • Concerned Black Women of Calvert County • NAACP Chapters of Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties • Washington Chapter of the American Nuclear Society

5

Thursday, October 6, 2011

The Calvert Gazette

Moving Transfer Station in Lusby on Back Burner

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer The county commissioners have put on hold a project that has been floating through the Calvert County government having to do with moving the convenience center in Lusby.

Mark Volland, public information specialist with Calvert County, said issues like the convenience center in Lusby can be a priority to one board, and not to another.

There is also the challenge of finding the location for it.

“It’s a long and involved process,” Volland said.

Currently, no action has been taken in moving the convenience center or opening another location under the new board. There are six convenience centers in Calvert County, which can be found on www.co.cal.md.us. The locations are in St. Leonard, Barstow, Lusby, Sunderland and two in Huntingtown.

There is also a transfer station in Lusby at the Appeal Landfill, which Volland said is the point from which trash is taken from Calvert County to Virginia.

“We’re not putting county trash in the county landfill,” Volland said.

Mike Thomas, the solid waste division chief, said “There is no known sites other than a request internally by me as a CIP [Capitol Improvement Project].”

Volland said projects that are put in as CIPs can go in one of three directions – is can be acted on, delayed or removed from the list. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

COUNTY NEWS

The Psychological Effects of Combat

By Robyn Truslow Calvert Library

Combat veterans and their families are at high risk for mental health problems. The numbers of servicemen and servicewomen diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has risen significantly over the past decade.

While the military once held an unofficial “don’t ask don’t tell” policy about mental health, now, not only is there conversation but the word “epidemic” is used and every family member is impacted.

Visit Calvert Library Prince Frederick on Tuesday, October 11 at 7 p.m. for an engaging presentation on the “Psychological Effects of Combat: Battlefront to Homefront.” Speakers will include internationally-recognized expert, Dr. Elspeth Ritchie and passionate advocate, Nicole Johnson Starr.

Colonel (Ret) Elspeth Cameron Ritchie, MD, MPH, recently retired from the Army after serving the last five years of her career as Director of the Proponency of Behavioral Health Director at the Office of the US Army Surgeon General. Currently, Dr. Ritchie is the Chief Clinical Officer, Department of Mental Health, for the District of Columbia.

She trained at Harvard, George Washington, Walter Reed, and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, and has completed fellowships in both forensic and preventive and disaster psychiatry. She is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

Her assignments and other missions have taken her

to Korea, Somalia, Iraq, and Cuba. She has over 130 publications, mainly in the areas of forensic, disaster, suicide, ethics, military combat and operational psychiatry, and women’s health issues. Major publications include “The Mental Health Response to the 9/11 Attack on the Pentagon,” “Mental Health Interventions for Mass Violence and Disaster” and “Humanitarian Assistance and Health Diplomacy: Military-Civilian Partnership in the 2004 Tsunami Aftermath.” She is currently the senior editor on a forthcoming Military Medicine text on Combat and Operational Behavioral Health, the Textbook of Forensic Military Mental Health, and the Therapeutic Use of Canines in Army Medicine.

Nicole Johnson Starr grew up in a military family overseas, spending most of her childhood outside the United States, in Germany. After leaving home at 17, she joined the United States Air Force, immediately going overseas after training to serve with the 353rd Special Operations Group.

Many years later, she joined the United States Army National Guard and has been serving with them since. Throughout her life, she has witnessed trauma in the form of death, rape, and abuse; but it wasn’t until she went to Afghanistan with the 300th Battalion, in 2008, that she learned about PTSD. Since then, she has made it her life purpose to reach out to others, teaching about PTSD, how it affects the individual and family members. She is currently attending school with the intent to gain her Psy.D., and concurrently working to build a PTSD retreat for soldiers, firefighters and police, as well as their families.

Community

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, October 6, 2011

6

Football Players Featured at 125th County Fair Seasoned Coupon Clipper Shares Tips Calvert County celebrated the 125th county fair, bringing in familiar attractions such as the rides and funnel cakes, and more recent draws like football greats signing autographs.

Featured on Friday was Mike “Mad Dog” Curtis, of the Baltimore Colts and the Washington Redskins, Ron Saul of the Houston Oilers and the Washington Redskins and Baltimore Colts veteran Tom Matte.

Curtis was drafted by the colts in 1965 as a fullback, then switched to linebacker. He played 14 seasons and was a four time pro bowler and super bowl champion with the colts in 1970. He played two seasons with the redskins in 1977 and 1978 before retiring.

Saul was drafted by the Houston Oilers in 1970 as a guard and played with them until 1976 when he joined the Redskins, playing through the 1981 season.

Matte played 12 seasons with the colts. He was the running back until 1965, when he filled in at quarterback when quarterback Johnny Unitas and backup quarterback Gary Cuozzo were both injured. Matte was selected to two pro bowls and was a super bowl champion with the colts in 1970. After retiring tom began a broadcasting career with CBS as a game analyst and later teamed with Scott Garceau on the Baltimore Ravens network. tom will be appearing at our booth from 6-8pm Saturday’s lineup consisted of Washington Redskins player Pat Fischer, Ron “Dancing Bear” McDole, who played with the Huston Oilers and the Buffalo Bills before joining the Washington Redskins lineup in 1971, and former Redskins lineman and “Head Hog” George Starke.

Fischer was drafted by the St. Louis cardinals in 1961 and played with them until 1968, when he joined the redskins. He had 56 interceptions in his career and was a key member of the 1972 redskins super bowl team.

Fisher played in 213 games which, a record for a defensive back.

McDole played from 1961 through 1978. He was originally drafted by the Houston Oilers and also played with the Buffalo Bills before coming to the Redskins in 1971.

Starke was the original member of the famous Redskins lineman group, The Hogs. He was drafted in 1972 appeared in three super bowls.

In addition to the football lineup, local schools and dance groups took the stage, and there were chainsaw carving demonstrations and the Amazing Rain Forest Experience, complete with tigers.

Between the exhibits, the rides and the arcade games, there was a little something for everyone at this year’s Calvert County Fair.

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer

Photos by Sarah Miller Former Washington Redskins player Ron McDole signs memorabilia during the Calvert County Fair. Below, Chainsaw Carver Dennis Beach works on his latest creation and Katherine Yeatman and Jim Cocoran play a round of skeeball.

Saving money is important, especially in difficult economic times. For some people, this means changing the brands of their groceries to find better deals, paying attention to buy one get one deals and even scaling back on the amount they purchase when shopping.

For Kimberly Pepper-Hoctor, saving money while grocery shopping has been a life long practice. For 30 years she has been clipping coupons, starting when she was 13 years old helping her mother.

“It’s kind of engrained in me,” she said.

Now, Pepper-Hoctor is sharing her experience and coupon clipping tips with the rest of the community, along with ways to buy balanced food items at a reasonable price.

“I show people how to eat healthy and save a buck,” she said.

While some people will go to extreme lengths to whittle their grocery bill down, Pepper-Hoctor said it is possible to find savings without going crazy about it.

“I’m not an extreme couponer, but I do save a lot of money,” she said.

She said she used coupons to help pay for staple items, and even when she got to a point where she was financially able to shop without coupons, she continued to do so, though she would go shopping during odd times to avoid as many people as possible.

“I had kind of a stigma that if you used coupons, you’re not making it,” she said.

Now, with the economy in a bad situation and money becoming tighter, clipping coupons is becoming socially acceptable to the point that it’s “almost trendy,” said Pepper-Hoctor, whose day job is as the marketing coordinator for Annmarie Garden in Dowell.

Some tips Pepper-Hoctor has include stocking up on non-perishable items, like soap, toilet paper, tissues and toothpaste, when there is a coupon that allows it to be done for a good deal. There is also a cycle for coupons, with items like cough medicine and hot chocolate being on sale in the fall and winter, sunscreen in late spring and Halloween candy at the end of October. Knowing when to start looking for certain items on sale can help a person plan their shopping list.

She also recommended getting the discount cards from grocery stores for further savings. For people at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, PepperHoctor tells them to shop at the commissary, which is normally cheaper than a grocery store before any coupons are applied.

Helping people plan shopping and learn more about saving money is what prompted Pepper-Hoctor to begin holding classes at NAS Patuxent River. When she began seeing a demand for similar classes, she started hosting them at the local libraries.

Upcoming classes include Saving with Coupons at Leonardtown Library Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m. and Lexington Park Library Nov. 7 at 6:30 p.m.

During the holiday season, Pepper-Hoctor also holds classes devoted to seasonal savings for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Holiday Savings classes will be held at Lexington Park Library Nov. 9 at 6:30 p.m. and Leonardtown Library Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m.

Her classes have been gaining popularity, and she is considering expanding classes into Calvert County. While her normal class size is 25 to 35 people, 75 showed up to her last class at the Leonardtown Library.

“It was phenomenal,” Pepper-Hoctor said.

In addition to her classes at the libraries, Pepper-Hoctor will be a guest speaker at the St. Mary’s County Mom’s Club on Oct. 19 and at the Department of Aging Health Fair Oct. 21.

For more information, or to register for classes, visit www.facebook. com/thegirllovescoupons or e-mail thegirllovescoupons@gmail.com. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

Photo courtesy of Kimberly Pepper-Hoctor

7

Thursday, October 6, 2011

The Calvert Gazette

Are you ready for the chill of winter?

Receive $75–$400 in rebates on HVAC equipment and services.

As much as half of your winter energy goes to heating your home.

SMECO has rebates available for: • New HVAC Equipment • HVAC Quality Installation • HVAC Diagnostic Tune-up • HVAC Duct Sealing This program supports the EmPOWER Maryland Energy Efficiency Act.

1-877-818-4094 smeco.coop/save

Community

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, October 6, 2011

8

That Doggone Tiki Bar Family Pet Day

By Mary Beth Gates Contributing Writer The 3rd annual That Doggone Tiki Bar Family Pet Day will be held on Sunday October 16 from 12 -5 p.m. at the Tiki Bar at 85 Charles Street on Solomons Island.

The event benefits the Calvert Well Pet Clinic in Huntingtown which offers low cost dog and cat spay and neuters and well pet visits.

There will be a moonbounce for the youngsters. The Tiki Bar has generously donated free snacks, sodas and water for the kids. Friends of Felines will have a booth selling cotton candy and hot chocolate to raise money for their rescue. Mr. Tom and his exotic animals will be bringing snakes, lizards, turtles and who knows what else!

Midnight’s Dog Training plans to set up an agility course and Training

by Julie will have doggie games as well. The Calvert K9 Search and Rescue Team will hold live demonstrations of their dogs at work which is always fascinating to watch. $25 Microchipping is being offered between 2 and 4 PM. Dr. Quigley from the Calvert Well Pet Clinic will hold an “ASK THE VET” session from 1 to 2 PM. Stop by the Animal Control of Calvert County van if you have any questions regarding ordinances and licensing - or if you just want to say hi.

There is no entry fee for the pet contests and registration is on site and must be done before 3 p.m. We have some great prizes for the winners of these contests: 3:00 Pet and owner look alike 3:20 Best tricks 3:40 Happiest dog- most wags per minute 4:00 Best pet costume In addition to the usual auction, 50/50 and raffles, we plan to have a “live” auction that will be held at 2:30. There have been a lot of awesome items donated. Raffle tickets for some of the great prizes are available at Pepper’s and the Well Pet Clinic. $5 ea or 5 for $20. You do not have to be present to win the raffle prizes.

The rescue groups attending with adoptable pets are: • Greyt Expectations Greyhounds • Golden Retriever Rescue of Southern Maryland • Friends of Felines- felines only • PAWS-felines only • Second Hope Rescue • Saint Marys Animal Welfare League • Humane Society of Calvert County- felines and canines In addition to the other attendees we have an exciting list of other vendors that will be attending: • Dogwatch of Southern Maryland • Island Pet Salon- info booth • Scentsy • Jill Lee- custom dog jackets • Pepper’s Pet Pantry • JnJ Custom stitches- embroidery machine with many animal breeds • Frannies Grannies- handmade and crocheted goods • Angela Reese- handmade collars and jewelry • Doggiestylez- pawdicures and dog painting • Valerie Lynn Pet Photography- info only • The Voodoo Shack- jewelry • Doggie Paws Mobile Grooming- info • PAWS-Pet day sweatshirts & tshirts and hats The band “No Green Jelly Beenz” acoustic will provide music. Free food will be provided by The Grill Sergeant and there will also be vegetarian food available.

Admission is free and there is plenty of free parking. Well behaved, leashed, vaccinated pets are welcome. Please no flexi leashes. For more information please call Jean from the Calvert Well Pet Clinic at (410) 326-1616 or Mary Beth at Pepper’s Pet Pantry (410) 326-4006.

David Nickey, of Lusby, with Skipper the dog dressed as Elvis, and his granddaughter, Jackie Wakefield, enjoyed last year’s “That Doggone Tiki Bar Family Pet Day.”

Local Marine Appointed Commanding Officer Colonel Bruce Barnhill recently became Commanding Officer of Marine Air Control Group-38 (MAGC-38), Miramar Air Station, San Diego, California.

Barnhill graduated from Radford University with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve. He reported to the Basic School in Quantico, Va., in March 1989 for training.

Upon graduation he was transferred to 2nd LAAD Battalion for duty. During this period he served as the assistant logistic officer for the battalion until January 1990 when he reported to the Marine Corps Detachment, Fort Bliss, Texas, to receive formal Anti-Air Warfare Officer training. Upon graduation, Barnhill returned to 2nd LAAD Battalion where he remained until January 1992.

During his tenure, he deployed in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In January 1992, Barnhill was assigned as the platoon commander, MACG 28 Detachment in support of the 26th MEU. During this period, he supported United Nations Operation Provide Promise in the former country of Yugoslavia. It was also during this period that Barnhill was augmented and received a regular Marine Corps commission. Upon his return from the 26th MEU in November 1992, Barnhill was assigned as 2nd LAAD Battalion assistant operations officer until he was reassigned as the commanding officer, Battery A in May 1993. Barnhill was reassigned to the Inspector Instructor Staff, 4th

LAAD Battalion, Pasadena, Calif., for duty as the battalion operations officer. He remained in this position until his selection to attend the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Officer’s Advance Course at Fort Bliss, Texas, in August 1996. After graduation, he was reassigned to 2nd LAAD Battalion as the assistant operations officer until he assumed command of Battery A in May 1997.

Barnhill remained in command until June 1998 when he assumed duties as the battalion operations officer.

Barnhill was selected to attend the Naval Command and Staff Course at the Naval War College, Newport, R.I., in July 1999. Upon graduation, he was transferred to the Pentagon, Department of Aviation, Headquarters Marine Corps as the surface to air weapons officer in the Aviation Command and Control Branch. He was ordered to report to MACG-28 for duty in March 2003 as the assistant operations officer until July 2003.

Barnhill was reassigned as the operations officer in May 2004. During this period, he deployed with the group in support of combat operations in Iraq. In June 2006, Barnhill assumed command of 2nd LAAD Battalion, subsequently deploying the command twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08, providing security for Al Asad Airbase and surrounding battle-space.

Barnhill relinquished command in December 2007 and assumed duties as MACG-28 executive officer until his reassignment as a student, U.S. Army War College, in July 2008. Upon graduation he was reassigned to Headquarters, Marine Corps, Dept of Aviation in June 2009 as the deputy branch head.

His personal awards include; Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with gold star, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

Colonel Barnhill’s parents are Capt. Ted Harwood, USN (ret) and Nancy Harwood of Hollywood, MD. His brother is Brian Barnhill of Scotland, MD.

Glenn Golf Tourney Raises $53,000

By Mike McGinn Contributing Writer On Sept. 15, the Marine Corps Aviation Association John Glenn Squadron held its 7th Annual Orbital Golf Classic at the Cedar Point Golf Course on Naval Air Station Patuxent River to raise funds for our scholarship program. We were honored to receive over $53,000 in contributions and donations in response.

100 percent of proceeds from the event go to support our scholarship program which, since its inception in 2007, has awarded a total $140,000 to 36 outstanding Tri-county area high school seniors who have gone on to pursue STEM-based degrees in college.

The tournament was won by Northrop Grumman Corporation teammates Scott Stewart, Linda Griffen, Tom Cavanaugh and their distinguished player draft pick, CDR Rob ‘Chachi’ Polvino from VX-20.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to the following individuals, local businesses, and corporations without whose contributions and donations this event and our scholarship program would not be possible: American Electronics Inc, Alliant Techsystems Inc, AugustaWest-

land, AVIAN Engineering Inc, BAE Systems Inc, Bell Helicopter, Blue Wind Gourmet, The Boeing Company, Bowhead, Bruster’s Ice Cream, Camber Corp, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Chick-Fil-A, Paul & Carol Choporis, Cedar Point Federal Credit Union, Defense Acquisition University, DCS Corp, Dial & Associates LLC, East Custom Golf, Eaton Corp, Elbit Systems Ltd, General Dynamics Information Technology, General Electric Aviation, Harris Corp, Island Inn & Suites, Jahn Corp, Jim & Nancy King, J.K. Hill & Associates Inc, Lockheed Martin Corp, ManTech Systems Engineering & Advanced Technology Group, Mattedi Gallery, Maximum Health & Fitness, Marine Corps Aviation Association National Headquarters, McKay’s Food & Drugs, Miss Suzie’s Charters, Northrop Grumman Corp, Organizational Strategies Inc, Paragon Properties, Pratt & Whitney, Precise Systems Inc, Rockwell Collins, Rolls-Royce, Sabre Systems Inc, Saddle Butte Systems, Shackleton Group, ShadowObjects LLC, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp, Staples, Starbucks, StraCon Services Group LLC, Tekla Research, Triton Metals Inc, Technology Security Associates Inc, WBB Consulting, World Gym, Wyle, and Zenetex.

9

Thursday, October 6, 2011

The Calvert Gazette

State Lottery Agency Narrows Casino Proposals

By Jessica Talson Capital News Service The State Lottery Agency last week eliminated two out of the five proposals from companies vying to build slots casinos in Baltimore and the Rocky Gap Resort.

The Video Lottery Facility Location Commission will pick from the remaining proposals.

Of the two proposals for a Baltimore casino, only CBAC Gaming LLC was recommended. The agency received three proposal for the Rocky Gap Resort location, and from those three Landow Partners LLC and Evitts Resort LLC were recommended to the commission.

A bid from Allegany Entertainment Group for Rocky Gap was denied because of problems with the application.

The bid from Baltimore City Casino LLC did not include a required licensing fee.

The choice of a casino builder can heavily influence how successful a casino becomes. Builders have jurisdiction over design aesthetics, community relations and whether more amenities are built, like golf courses and spas.

“The model in Maryland is Hollywood Casino in Perryville. They did a great job of establishing relationships with people in Cecil County,” said Dr. James Karmel, a gaming analyst for the consulting company Gaming Atlantic, and a business professor at Harford Community College.

After years of debating slots, the Maryland legislature passed a bill that put the question to a referendum in 2008.

Marylanders voted to allow five slots casinos throughout the

state.

Hollywood Casino in Cecil County and the Casino at Ocean Downs in Worcester County are currently Maryland’s only two operating slots parlors. In August alone, the combined income of Hollywood Casino and Ocean Downs was $13.1 million. State officials are pleased with that number, especially considering the effects of Hurricane Irene.

Ocean Downs was forced to close on the weekend that the hurricane hit because the Eastern Shore was evacuated.

Hollywood Casino remained open but had fewer visitors than usual.

Maryland Live! At Arundel Mills Mall is currently under construction and is scheduled to be partially open by June 2012, and be fully operational in the fall of next year.

The casino will have about 4,750 slot machines.

If built and managed correctly, the Allegany County and Baltimore casinos could bring money to the state and create jobs.

So far in 2011, the two open casinos have put $50.4 million into the Maryland Education Trust Fund. Every casino in Maryland will be required to put almost 50 percent of its revenue into the trust fund.

“I think that it’s pretty clear now that the doomsayers are wrong. Calamity has not struck Worcester County or Perryville because they opened casinos,” Karmel said.

However, slots opponents remain. The Washington Post reported this week that Prince George’s County Council Member Eric Olson, D-College Park, has introduced a bill that would ban slots in Prince George’s County.

GPS Could be Used to Deter Chesapeake Bay Poachers

By Greg Masters Capital News Service A pilot program to install tracking devices on some commercial fishing boats in the Chesapeake Bay may go into effect next year.

The program - which will be discussed at two open houses next week along with proposed fishing regulations from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service - would be voluntary for commercial fishermen.

But vessel monitoring systems may ultimately be required to discourage illegal fishing in Maryland, said Tom O’Connell, director of DNR’s fisheries service.

“The objective is to get greater compliance in the ability to enforce our fisheries management rules,” O’Connell said about the pilot program, which may apply to the striped bass fishery, oyster fishery, or both.

This winter, Maryland Natural Resources Police discovered more than 13 tons of poached striped bass, also called rockfish, in illegally anchored nets in the Chesapeake Bay. The poaching finds led fisheries agencies to close rockfish season early. Natural Resources Police served search warrants related to the poaching but have made no arrests.

Vessel monitoring systems discourage illegal fishing by allowing agencies to track commercial fishing boats that go into closed areas or operate during restricted times. They are being used increasingly across the United States and Canada but would be new to Maryland, O’Connell said.

“The idea is, before even considering this being a requirement in any of our fisheries, we should do a small-scale pilot program that’s voluntary so that we have the opportunity to experiment with different types of vessel monitoring systems,” O’Connell said.

The program would also give watermen the chance to experiment with having a GPS tracking device installed on their boats.

“I think that watermen in general have some concerns with the government being able to track their vessels’ movements,” O’Connell said.

Larry Simns, president of the Maryland Watermen’s Association, said

he is not bothered by the idea of being tracked.

“Nobody wants to have the government on your back all the time, but if we don’t do something, two or three bad apples are going to ruin the whole fishery for us,” Simns said.

Most law-abiding watermen will be fine with vessel monitoring systems as long as it does not cost them anything, Simns said.

“The ones that are breaking the law are going to raise the devil about it,” he said.

But the cost of vessel monitoring systems - which could be $1,500 to $3,000, according to O’Connell - concerns Simns. “If we have to pay for it, we just can’t do it,” he said.

For the pilot program, DNR is looking at buying the devices for participants using grant money, O’Connell said. But if tracking devices ever become a requirement, the industry will likely have to pay for them.

O’Connell said the increased cost of the vessel monitoring systems could be offset in other ways, such as relaxing regulatory constraints on the industry. For example, participants in the pilot program may receive an individual quota, or allotted amount of fish, giving them the flexibility to fish when the market is best for them, he said.

An open house will be held from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on October 6 to discuss a set of proposed regulations on commercial striped bass, and the pilot program will be introduced for initial feedback.

The open house will be held at Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company, 161 Ritchie Highway in Severna Park.

Your Online Community For Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s Counties www.somd.com

STATE NEWS

Maryland Leaders, Mail Workers Rally for Bill to Save Post Office

By Andrew Damstedt Capital News Service Congressmen and union workers rallied in Baltimore last week in support of a bill that could help revive the financially ailing U.S. Postal Service by allowing the agency access to $21 billion paid into its retirement fund.

“If we don’t resolve this issue, my understanding is we are going to lose 126,000 jobs in the United States,” said Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Cockeysville. “That’s unacceptable. I’m saying let’s stand up and get the message out that we aren’t using taxpayers’ money.”

The U.S. Postal Service has proposed cutting costs by $3 billion, laying off more than 110,000 workers nationwide and potentially closing 42 post offices and four processing facilities in Maryland, to shore up its depleted finances.

Reps. Elijah Cummings, D-Baltimore, and John Sarbanes, DTowson, joined Ruppersberger at the Baltimore Teachers Union with union leaders and postal workers at a rally to stump for HR-1351, a bill to allow the U.S. Postal Service to reduce required pension payments to meet current financial needs.

In 2006, Congress gave the Postal Service 10 years to fund 75 years in advance of future health benefits, amounting to $5.5 billion per year. That money, supporters said, caused the post office’s financial woes, not the decrease in mail volume.

“Congress, you helped make this problem. We’re saying very clearly we need you to correct it,” said Marvin “Doc” Cheatham, president of the National Action Network, Baltimore Chapter. “How can you expect a government agency ... to put aside billions of dollars for people not even born yet.”

Cummings said committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., was stalling the legislation.

Issa sponsored his own bill addressing the Postal Service financial problems, titled the Postal Reform Act, which has only one other cosponsor, Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla. Ali Ahmad, oversight committee spokesman, said in a phone interview that Issa’s bill sets up a commission to submit a plan to Congress to close or consolidate postal retail facilities, mail processing plants and offices; change to a five-day mail delivery schedule and eliminate postal rate preferences for political committees and reduce rate preferences for nonprofit organizations. That bill has moved through committee and is expected to come to a floor vote.

“The Postal Service needs to be free to make better business decisions to modernize its business models,” Ahmad said.

Ahmad called it a myth that eliminating the requirement to fund pensions years in advance would solve the post office’s financial troubles. If those mandates were eliminated, he said, the Postal Service would have an unfunded liability of nearly $100 billion by 2017.

Ruppersberger said it was a “no brainer” to approve the legislation to allow the Postal Service to dip into its overpaid pension funds to solve the post office’s financial troubles.

The Postal Service is studying 3,600 low-activity offices for possible closure, including 42 in Maryland.

Nationally, the service has closed 186 facilities, laid off more than 110,000 workers and reduced costs by $12 billion since 2006, according to the service’s information. Also during that time, first-class mail volume has declined by 25 percent, or 43 billion pieces, and automated mail-processing equipment has been installed, increasing efficiency, according to an email from Freda Sauter, Postal Service spokeswoman.

The four processing facilities under threat of closure in Maryland are in Cumberland, Easton, Gaithersburg and Waldorf. Sauter told Capital News Service that the Frederick Processing and Distribution Facility will close by the end of the year, with employees there being assigned either to Baltimore or the Frederick area.

She said those changes would not affect mail delivery.

Your Online C Calvert, an w

Spotlight On

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, October 6, 2011

10

Maryland May Seek Waiver of No Smith Hopes NCLB Waivers Will Help Child Left Behind School Reforms

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer

By Gina Cairney Capital News Service Maryland may apply for a waiver from No Child Left Behind requirements after President Obama announced last week that he is allowing states to request flexibility from the decade-old law in exchange for a more rigorous system that promotes college and career readiness.

The Maryland State Department of Education is very interested in the waiver package, and according to MSDE spokesman Bill Reinhard, “the state is likely to sign on” after reviewing all the necessary information.

A reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, No Child Left Behind was signed into law in 2002 by President Bush, and has been the educational guideline for the last 10 years, aimed at improving student achievement and bringing math and reading proficiencies to 100 percent by 2014.

The law required states to annually test students in grades three to eight in reading and math, and required states to provide annual report cards showing the school districts’ progress. The law also affected teachers, requiring educators in specific subjects to be highly qualified, meaning the teacher was certified to teach that subject with demonstrable proficiency.

“The law was written with the best of intentions,” Reinhard said, but as time passed, the flaws in NCLB became apparent, as many schools were categorized as “failing”.

Douglas B. Reeves, founder of the Leadership and Learning Center, wrote in 2008 for Educational Leadership, a publication by Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, that schools labeled as failing is “one of the most consistent criticisms” and is unfair because school performance is based on comparisons of test scores by fourth-grade students from the current year to fourth-grade students from the previous year.

No Child Left Behind was due for a reauthorization four years ago, but Congress failed to act, prompting Obama to step in to relieve states from the 2014 proficiency requirements.

According to the White House’s ESEA Fact Sheet, states will be allowed to step away from the “one size fits all” approach and to design a system that will help lowest-performing schools as well as schools with the largest achievement gaps. States and schools will also have more flexibility in how they use their funds to best meet their students’ needs.

Before MDSE signs on for a waiver more information is needed, but Reinhard said “the waiver package is something to look forward to.”

Calvert Performs Well in Annual Yearly Progress

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer The scores are in for the 2011 standardized tests, and two schools that didn’t make it last year from Calvert County have made Annual Yearly Progress (AYP).

Mill Creek Middle School is the only school in Calvert County to still be identified for improvement, according to MdReportCard.org.

Gail Bennett, public information officer for Calvert County Public Schools, said in the light of the success the district has had they will continue to make sure educators and schools are “meeting the very specific needs of the individual student.”

She said the school district’s goal is to meet the needs of every student.

This includes proctoring “benchmark tests” throughout the year to gauge what subjects the students are understanding and what a teacher needs to go back and review. The benchmark tests are comparable to the year-end assessments, Bennett said.

In addition to the AYP scores, information was released by the Maryland Department of Education showing trends in student growth. In the case of Calvert County, the growth has shown a downward trend over the past few years. Bennett said this is due to external factors, like the housing market and economy.

“We take every student that comes to us,” Bennett said. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

States are now able to apply for waivers from the rigid standards of No Child Left Behind (NCLB).

President Barack Obama announced Sept. 23 that there will be new waivers for states finding the need for flexibility in certain aspects of NCLB. “NCLB has put too much emphasis on a single standardized test on a single day. This is teachers’ biggest complaint about the law. They feel pressure to prepare students for those tests, leading to an unintended narrowing of the curriculum and an emphasis on the basic skills measured by standardized tests. NCLB’s accountability system doesn’t help drive and shape a well-rounded curriculum that challenges students to excel academically,” a fact sheet from www.ed.gov says.

Jack Smith, Calvert County Public Schools Superintendent, said he’d like to see the state apply for the waivers if they work for the good of the school districts. Instead of instilling regulations that are different but just as rigid, he’d like to see regulations with more flexibility.

“If there’s relief from those regulations, I’d be happy,” Smith said.

He said instead of punishing schools that are not progressing fast enough toward the goal of 100 percent of students passing state exams, the overall progress of the school should be taken into account. Under current NCLB standards, even schools that are making forward progress are being punished.

Maryland State Board of Education spokesperson Bill Reinhard said the state is “absolutely looking at them [the waivers]” though he can’t yet say whether the state will be applying for them. He said the state wants to review the materials and ask questions before committing to a course of action.

Smith agreed to waiting to see if the waiver is suitable before applying for it.

“There has to be some logic to what’s done,” Smith said.

With the new Race to the Top (RTTT) standards, Smith said schools are deemed successful for the progress they make and not arbitrary goals. He said all data in each school, not just the standardized tests, needs to be taken into account. sarahmiller@countytimes.net

History Fair May Be Daunting, But Rewarding

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer Most parents who have middle school age students in Calvert County Public Schools cringe at the initial thought of History Fair. It is one of the few long-term projects required during their child’s 12-year tenure.

Scott McComb, Supervisor of Social Studies for Calvert County Schools said there are many valuable reasons for requiring the participation of all 10 middle and high schools and especially sixth through twelfth grade honor students.

“The most essential is that the History Day process is a long-term comprehensive project. There is not a lot of opportunity for students to learn how to break a complex process down over time.”

The skills the students will learn from completing a History Fair project will help them in the future whether for college or career.

“They have to develop and argument and support it with evidence,” said McComb.

According to the History Day

website it also “improves reading and writing Top Ten Reasons to participate in skills and helps you beNational History Day come a better researcher, all while you are learning about a topic of your 1. Teaches History choice.”

2. Engages Students This year’s theme 3. Energizes the Curriculum is “Revolution, Reaction 4. Promotes High Academic Standards and Reform in History,” 5. Encourages Literacy to “provide an opportu6. Enhances Assessment nity for students to push 7. Teaches Critical Thinking past the antiquated view 8. Inspires Curiosity of history as mere facts 9. Recognizes the Student Strengths and dates and drill down 10. Activates Civic Engagement into historical content to develop perspective and understanding,” accordgather the best evidence to support ing to the NHD website. their theory and then determine how According to McComb, the na- to present their work. tion is going through an educational McComb said he’s seen History reform and moving to The Com- Fair through three different perspecmon Core. Two of the objectives in tives over his years. As a teacher, the program are to teach students supervisor of the department and a to write to make and argument and parent, he’s discovered that students write to inform. The History Fair in- discover skills and strengths they corporates both these. didn’t know they possessed as a reThe students choose their own sult of going through this process. topic, develop a question they want to answer or an argument to prove, corrin@somdpublishing.net

Public Library to Help with History Fair Projects

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer “Power Up Your History Fair Project” is yet another way Calvert County Public Library supports its clients. For the third year in a row, trained librarians will conduct a seminar for middle school students required to produce a History Fair Project for school Offering the 90 minute seminar twice at the main branch in Prince Frederick, students must pre-register for a session either on October 6 or 18 beginning at 7 p.m. and ending at 8:30.

Because the History Fair projects require both primary and secondary source materials, the library will show students how to locate any material through various research data bases.

“All librarians are all very well trained in research,” said Robyn Truslow, the library’s Public Relations Coordinator. The two sessions cover topics such as narrowing

down the topic, training on using the library’s research databases, finding primary and secondary sources, and locating other materials to aid you in completing the project.

The program will be interactive so the students aren’t just listening to a speaker for 90 minutes. Parents may drop their child off or stay. Light refreshments will be made available. Both sessions cover the same content so there is no need to sign up more than once.

Truslow said the sessions have been very popular over the years, in fact they started out with just one seminar and had to add a second. If students already have their topic narrowed and have begun gathering information, they are encouraged to bring it in. If not, they don’t have to worry, they can receive support.

The sessions are limited to 25 students because the program is interactive and the library staff wants to provide as much individual attention as possible.

Parents or students can go online at calvert.lib.md.us or call (410) 535-0291 or (301) 855-1862 to sign up.

11

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Spotlight On

Priming Their Brains for Learning Honored Teacher’s Style Fosters Interest

Giving students a test before they are introduced to the material? It’s not the usual teaching strategy, but College of Southern Maryland’s social sciences instructor Dawn Richards has found that to help students learn, she must get them ready to learn.

Sometimes, that means beginning class with a truefalse quiz. “I might give them five minutes to take it, off the top of their head, true-false, true-false--only takes five minutes. Then the material from the class is based on that,” Richards said. “It gets in their brains the important things to focus on…I just want to prime their brains for the information I’m offering.”

Richards, who was recognized as the latest recipient of the Faculty Excellence Award for Adjunct Faculty, has been interested in the process of learning throughout her 12-year teaching career. “I study how the brain works—what’s the best way to learn?” Richards said in a CSM press release. “Studying and learning is really a skill. Textbook chapters can be dense, so learn to study smart. That’s a skill that’s not only applicable in a college classroom, but also in everyday life.”

Her courses, which range from sociology to world regional geography, offer plenty of opportunity to foster the critical thinking she seeks from her students.

Richards often poses a societal question in class, allows students to discuss it in groups, and then includes everyone in a back-and-forth dialogue. One example Richards has used is the question of whether society influences a person’s choice in a marriage partner in which she finds most students initially say no: in our culture, we get to choose our own partner.

Richards will ask, “Oh, OK, so you get to choose whoever you want. Well, OK, let’s pretend I’m in the market for a marriage partner. Can I marry anyone I want?”

Yes, absolutely, the students respond.

Richards then points out you can’t marry someone who’s already married as society frowns upon more than one wife. The students then consider other factors, such as if the person was of another race, religion or ethnicity, if the person was severely disabled and needed constant care or resources, or if the potential partner was a lot older, or a lot younger.

By the end of the discussion, students realize that society has a lot to do with the choice of a marriage partner, Richards said. “It’s not just [about] us and our desires and wishes. There’s also social control, these sort of unwritten rules of society.”

Richards has been using inductive methods of teaching after she earned her master’s degree in anthropology at the University of Hawaii in 1991. As a graduate student, she served as a teaching assistant in three cultural anthropology classes with three different instructors, “and it gave me an idea how the same subject could be taught different ways,” she said.

After she received her degree, the department chair then offered her an opportunity to teach cultural anthropology. “I wanted some more ideas about teaching, so I went to the graduate library and checked out a bunch of books about how students learn, how do our brains work, what are good teaching methods. One of the books talked about inductive teaching: rather than tell the students the

Dawn Richards, who was recognized as the latest recipient of the Faculty Excellence Award for Adjunct Faculty at the College of Southern Maryland, has been interested in the process of learning throughout her 12-year teaching career.

definition of something, present the subject information and let them come up with the definition for it on their own.”

Richards returned to CSM in 2007 after a previous stint in the 1990s at the college. Over the years, she has followed her husband, Tim Rush, a retired meteorologist with the Navy, to different countries. Richards also worked as a flight attendant, so she has had an opportunity to see some of the parts of the world she discusses with her students, some of whom have not traveled afar.

“It makes it exciting to be able to open their eyes to different ways of living, different ways of doing things, different ways of thinking about issues.”

CSM Geography Professor Art Viterito, who nominated Richards for the award, noted that her experience enables her to teach across a number of disciplines, and she has even taken on a course on Western civilization.

“It’s just remarkable to teach in three different disciplines and do an excellent job in all three,” he said, calling Richards one of the top teachers he has encountered in his 30year career.

Viterito called Richards “a true academic” who is always seeking ways to keep her courses fresh and relevant to students.

Little Sabres Hockey Registration Open Registration is now open for the Southern Maryland Sabres Hockey Club’s Little Sabres program.

For ages 4 - 10, Little Sabres is a four-level program that teaches children the fundamentals of ice hockey.

Each level includes four, 45-minute sessions of skills-based instruction on ice. Children receive equipment at the end of each level so they have everything needed by the end of the program.

The cost is $50 per four-week session. Annual USA Hockey Insurance is required ($35.00) (Free for ages 6 & under).

The next four-week session begins Oct. 29 at the Capital Clubhouse in Waldorf.

Level 1: includes helmet, stick, jersey & gloves Level 2: includes elbow pads, shin guards & bag Level 3: includes hockey socks, pants & garter belt Level 4: includes shoulder pads & $40.00 voucher for skates at Mike’s Sporting Equipment at the Capital Clubhouse.

Register online at www.somdsabres.org.

For more information, please contact Little Sabres Director Amanda Vaccaro at littlesabres@somdsabres. org.

P ages P

ast

How to Get Started on the Roots of Your Family Tree

By Joyce Baki

Anyone that knows me, knows I love family history. I have collected bits and pieces of history about my family for the last twenty years. It started with a school project that was assigned to my daughter, Erin. Erin was supposed to make a list of family members as far back as possible. Easy?

Not as easy as you would think. After several calls to family members, we were able to list parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. The project became a passion for me.

How do you begin your family tree? Start with yourself. List everything you can about you, your parents, your grandparents, your siblings.

List all milestones – birthdates, anniversaries, date of death - you may have. What records do you have that support this information? Do you have a family Bible where someone has listed family members? Many of us have a “box” somewhere that has old photos, school or military records, certificates, news clippings, marriage certificates, old wills and deeds. Go through these and make a list.

Talk with family members. Write down questions you want answered. Ask if you can record the conversation. As you talk with people, if someone gives you information that is different than that told to you by someone else, do not contradict. You do not want to close off future discussions. Ask if they have any records that they would be willing to share.

My uncle had done a great deal of research which he shared with me. From his records I learned my great-great grandfather had been in the Civil War, and my close proximity to the National Archives allowed me to research military records from the Civil War to learn more about this man.

Keep good records. There are basic forms to help you record your genealogy. A Family Group Sheet (FGS) allows you to list a father, mother and their children; with birth, death and marriage dates, the location of those milestones, and the name of a spouse for the children if they married.

Where would you find more information? If your family is from the area, begin with your local historical society. You will find information on local history and the families that have made an impact on that area. The Calvert County Historical Society is located in Prince Frederick, MD. To find more information on the group visit www.calverthistory.org.

Visit your state archives. The Maryland Archives (www.msa.gov.us) is a repository for Maryland records including death certificates, court, probate, land and military records. You will also find a large inventory of local newspapers on microfilm, which gives you local news, obituaries, engagement and marriage announcements.

Census records not only help you to locate where your ancestors lived, but yields other important information. A typical record will include the head of household, wife, children, age, sex, where they were born and where their parents were born, if they could read and write, their occupations, and if they owned or rented the land on which they were living.

Beware, many people could not read or write, so names could be spelled wrong. And there are many stories of census takers that recorded the information improperly.

Church records will have lists of parishioners, baptismal, marriage and burial records. Graveyards will sometimes yield birth and death dates.

Families were generally buried within a plot, so look to see who else is nearby. It may be a married daughter, or a grandchild.

Keep records of when, where, what and why you were researching and if you found anything or not. Whenever possible, make a copy of the original record.

There are many ways to store your information – my favorite is Family Tree Maker, however, you will find lots of great products out there.

Find one that you like to use. My family tree now has more than 4200 names. We have traced my mom’s line to the 1500’s to a small town on the border of France and Germany.

I still struggle with my dad’s line. His family has been in Calvert County for more than 200 years. Calvert County lost many records in fires that occurred at the courthouse around the turn of the century.

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, October 6, 2011

12

STORY

Breast Cancer Hits Home For County Commissioners

By Corrin M. Howe Staff Writer

Facts about Breast Cancer

Calvert County Board of Commissioners President Susan Shaw broke up during the board’s last meeting in From the National Cancer September as she spoke about October being Breast CanInstitute cer Awareness Month.

• More American caucasian She said neither she nor Commissioner Pat Nutter women are diagnosed with breast would read the board’s proclamation supporting the Susan cancer; however, more AfricanG. Komen for the Cure request to raise awareness breast American women die from it. cancer and potentially save lives.

• During the 2011, National “I’m a poster child for early detection,” said Shaw, Cancer Institute predicts nearly who encouraged those watching the meeting in attendance 230,000 American women and 2,100 or over the cable station to get mammograms. She further men will be diagnosed with breast noted she is a three-year survivor of breast cancer. cancer. Nearly 40,000 women and Commissioner Nutter’s wife is currently undergoing 450 men will die from it. treatment for cancer. He said he’s been very impressed with the outreach of cancer support in the community. His Risk Factors according to Susan family has received hundreds of calls.

G. Komen for the Cure: “It has certainly made things a lot easier. Calvert Me• being a woman morial Hospital has been great in offering their support,” • getting older (higher percenthe said. age after starting menopause after Kasia Sweeney, from Calvert Memorial Hospital Center for Breast Care, accepted the proclamation, in which Photos by John Douglass age 55 • a personal history of breast or the county pledged to send out information to employees Some of the 538 runners and walkers get ready before participating in Saturday’s 5K to raise money for ovarian cancer as well as through their commissioner newsletter, wear the Calvert Memorial Hospital’s Center For Breast Care.

• a family history of breast, pink ribbon pens and to illuminate the Drum Point Lightovarian or prostate cancer house in pink throughout the month.

• having high breast density on “It’s hard to find someone who has not been touched a mammogram by breast cancer,” Sweeney said during the presentation.

• having a previous biopsy Calvert Hospital’s Center for Breast Care is “the first showing atypical hyperplasia of its kind in Southern Maryland,” and “gives local women • starting menopause after age access to an experienced team of breast health experts and 55 the most sophisticated technology available today,” ac• never having children cording to Sweeney.

• having your first child after The Center which opened January 2010 is located in age 35 the Medical Arts building, the new brick building north of • radiation exposure, frequent the hospital, and offers comprehensive care to those diagX-rays in youth nosed with breast cancer.

• high bone density “Male Breast Cancer is rare, but we have the ability to • being overweight after menotreat men here at the center,” said Sweeney. In fact a couple pause or gaining weight as an adult of men have been patients.

• postmenopausal hormone use Dr. Ramona Crowel-Goldberg, wife of the late Dr. (current or recent use) of estrogen or Sheldon Goldberg, first director of the center, said, “Shelestrogen plus progestin don had the honor and privilege of being its medical director, but for much too short a time. His life was tragically taken this past July; however, he left us knowing he had Center, located at the lower level fulfilled his life-long passion –that of healing, and with a of the Medical Arts building, “is genuine empathy for breast cancer patients.” on a par with what you would find Crowel-Goldberg continued, “Sheldon’s hope was in a tertiary center in a metropolithat a center for breast care would serve patients and their tan area,” families, not just with state of the art imaging, surgery Furthermore, when a breast and oncology, but with support groups and educational biopsy is recommended, most can programs—a well-planned comprehensive treatment be performed using a minimally program.” invasive alternative to surgery To that end, the center collaborates with John Hopknown as image-guided needle kins Imaging. Dr. biopsy.

Nagi Khouri, who The breast center also offers is an imaging spespecial services such as Fran’s for both John Nu Image, which offers fittings of 5K Raises $15,000 for cialist Hopkins and Calvert prostheses, bras, specialized apCare Center, parel, lymphedema products, wigs, Center for Breast Care Breast was selected as one turbans and scarves in a private area. Owner and certified fitter Calvert Memorial Hospital held of the top five womMimi Quade is there on Mondays a 5k run in Solomons on Oct. 1 to en’s image specialbut will make appointments for raise money for the Center for Breast ists in 2007.

Another unique other days.

Care.

According to Sweeney, the adSpokesperson Kasia Sweeney part of the center vantage to the center is having the said 538 runners crossed the finish is their Breast Care Navigator. ists involved in breast care include breast surgeon, medispace and environment for all the line and approximately $15,000 was Nurse Linda Walton, RN, cal and radiation oncologists, plastic surgeon, nutritionist, people cancer specialists and service providers to consult raised. with one another about the patient’s treatment.

The center will also host a Sur- BSN, OCN immedi- social worker and home care providers.

She helps lessen anxiety, by providing reassurance, For more information about the Breast Care Center, vivor’s dinner for patients on Oc- ately contacts a patober 27 as part of their month long tient when any kind explaining results and answering questions about diagno- including other services not mentioned here, call the breast of abnormal finding sis and treatment options. care navigator at 410-414-4700. Women interested in a activities.

“It’s like learning a whole new language,” said Wal- screening mammogram can also call this number. Or go to Many people came out to speak is found. She is there about the passing of Dr. Sheldon to guide the patient ton, “and I’m the interpreter. My role is to help our patients their website: www.calverthospital.com/landing.

Goldberg, former director of the cen- through the entire better understand the information being presented so they cfm?id=209 ter who died in a rafting accident in process from detec- can make informed decisions.”

According to lead radiologist Dr. Guillermo Zamtion to recovery. corrin@somdpublishing.net July 2011 in Montana.

Other special- brano, the diagnostic technology at Calvert Medical Image

13

The Calvert Gazette

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Lobbying Group Pushing For Online Sales Tax Collection A group of Maryland businesses and elected officials are banding together to advocate in favor of e-fairness - requiring online-only retailers to collect and remit sales taxes at the point of purchase just like Maryland businesses do every single day, reports an Annapolis-based lobbying group, Capitol Strategies LLC. Internet retailers currently exploit a loophole that forces the purchaser - as opposed to the seller - to track and pay sales taxes on their online purchases. Due to this decades old loophole that pre-dates the Internet, online-only companies such as Amazon and Overstock.com can offer as much as a 10% discount in their prices over traditional retail companies by not collecting state taxes, a press release states. Brick-and-mortar businesses simply cannot compete with Internet corporations taking advantage of outdated governmental tax policy giving them a competitive advantage. Unless this problem is corrected, local businesses may be forced to close up shop, leading to the loss of thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue.

California recently demanded that the online giant Amazon collect the state’s sales tax, something that the company vigorously opposes elsewhere. California lawmakers realized Amazon’s eva-

sion not only deprived their state of much-needed revenue, but also hurt their local businesses that could not compete against the unfair price advantage due to the playing field tilted toward Internet-based retailers.

Chair of the Maryland House Ways & Means Committee, Delegate Sheila Hixson stated in response to California’s legislation, “Now that Amazon has agreed to collect sales taxes in California, I hope Governor Martin O’Malley and Congressman Chris Van Hollen will work with us to find e-fairness solutions for Maryland’s small business owners. We cannot wait any longer as out-of-state, online-only retailers continue to exploit a sales tax loophole that hurts our Main Street retailers.”

After first suggesting collecting sales taxes in California would be unconstitutional, and then arguing that collecting state sales tax would inhibit job creation in California, just a few weeks ago Amazon came to an agreement with state officials to begin collecting California sales taxes in 2012, Capitol Strategies reports.

The agreement brings to six the total number of states Amazon will be collecting sales taxes next year. Amazon already collects in Kentucky, New York, Washington, Kansas and North Dakota.

Regional Library Mobile Web Launched A new mobile web page has been launched to give area library users convenient access to online library services from their smart phones. The mobile web page was created by the Southern Maryland Regional Library to work simply and efficiently on a small, smart-phone screen.

The site ties together all of the library resources that are available for smart phones into one mobile web site, which is available at http://mobile.somd.lib.md.us.

“The mobile site includes the digital catalog and downloadable audio and e-books,” said David Paul, Information Services Manager for the regional library. “It also provides access to online

sources of information such as World Book Encyclopedia; Mango Languages; and science, literature and magazine resources.”

The mobile page also provides links to several library apps that give users access to their personal library account.

The new mobile page was tested by the regional library using many different kinds of phones, ensuring that the site works in most mobile web browsers.

For more information about the mobile web page or any regional library service, contact your local library or email marketing@somd.lib.md.us.

Growing Grapes for Wine Grants Available

The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC) is once again offering grants to farms in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s counties to aid in the purchase of wine grape vines.

These funds are being made available as a continuation of SMADC’s Growing Grapes for Wine Program which was established to encourage and support the development of a competitive wine industry in Southern Maryland.

The grant program offers matching funds for the purchase of grape vines compatible with the region. The Grapes for Wine Program is offered together with the University of Maryland Extension which will provide ongoing training and production expertise.

To be eligible an applicant must own or be co-applicant with the owner of at least 5 acres of land currently in agricultural use. The site must to be suitable (determined by a UME educator) and the soils tested for nematodes. Soil samples must be taken this fall and sent to a laboratory for analysis. The grant application and guidelines detail procedures and provide a list of laboratories.

Existing grape growers and new growers may apply, unless the farmer is a prior recipient of a SMADC Farm Viability Grant awarded specifically for vineyard enhancement. Past participants of the Growing Grapes for Wine cost-share program are eligible.

Awards will be made based on satisfactory test results and pending availability of funding. Grant applications are due to SMADC by December 2, 2011.

To download the grant application and guidelines Click here or visit www.smadc.com or contact SMADC staff at: (301) 274-1922 Ex. 1.

Fall Auto Savings

All Vehicles Are MArylAnd stAte inspected And coMe With A 3,000 Mile or 3 Month WArrAnty 1997 Chrysler Sebring JX

2007 Jeep Wrangler

Convertible, Clean WAS $5,495

Sahara Unlimited Package WAS $23,975

$18,985

2007 Honda Accord VP Auto, A/C WAS $14,495

$11,940

2008 Pontiac G-5 Auto, A/C WAS $11,495

$9,985

$3,980

2005 Honda Pilot EX-L Auto, 4x4, Loaded WAS $14,985

$13,945

2005 Pontiac Gran Prix

$8,465

2007 Ford Mustang

4DR, Loaded, Auto WAS $9,485

2009 Scion XB 4DR, Clean WAS $17,985

$16,480

2010 Chevrolet Camaro 1SS 6-Speed, Loaded, Low Miles WAS $35,985

$31,699

2008 Honda Civic SI 6-Speed, Very Clean $19,875

$17,460

Clean, Great Miles WAS $15,985

$12,890

Come See The Oldest Locally-Owned Dealership in St. Mary’s County

301-373-CARS (2277) • 1-800-554-5593

24179 Mervell Dean Road, Hollywood, Maryland 20636

www.tomhodgesauto.com

Sp rts

The Calvert Gazette

Edmonds Wires Potomac Field for Emotional Nationals Victory

By Doug Watson

Winchester Va.’s Rick Edmonds drove the race of his career as he was triumphant in the 20th annual running of the Southern Maryland Nationals last Saturday night at Potomac speedway. In scoring his first-ever street stock feature win at the track, Edmonds became the 16th different driver to score a win in this highly coveted event and the hefty $2500 winners share that went with it.

2009 nationals winner Mike Corbin and Edmonds paced the 26-car starting field to the initial green flag of the event. Utilizing the high-side of the speedway, Edmonds out-dragged Corbin as the pack raced of turn two to garner the top-spot. From that point on, Edmonds would Rick Edmonds eventually go on to lead all 35-laps of the race but not without numerous challenges by eventual runner-up Mike Corbin.

“I cant believe we finally won the nationals. “The emotional Edmonds stated as the tears rolled down his cheeks.

“We’ve been trying so hard for a lot of years to win this race, and to get my first-ever win here at Potomac in this race is a dream come true.” Despite Edmond’s dominating performance, his mount was starting to falter near the end of the race. “This thing was spitting and sputtering with about five to go and I was about to cry inside the car.” Edmonds emphasized. “She held together and I cant thank everyone enough who helped me get here tonight.” Kyle Nelson, in his first start of the season, came home third, 26th starting Terry Staton took fourth and 13th starting Mike Rose completed the topfive. Setting fast-time in time trials over the 38-car field was Mike Rose with a one-lap time of 18.266. Heats went to Darren Alvey, Mike Corbin, Kurt Zimmerman and Scottie Nelson with twin consolations going to Jimmy Jessmer Jr. and Mike Grady Jr. David Williams, the 2011 Potomac late model champion, scored his second win of the season and his 10th overall feature win of 2011, with a dominating performance in the 30lap limited late model headliner.

After three aborted starts, third starting Williams inherited the top spot as the field finally went green. That was all Williams needed as he would lead every lap over runner-up Bruce Kane to post his 34th career limited late model win at Potomac. “We set a goal of 10 wins this season , and I’m glad we were able to reach that goal. The car was just about perfect tonight which made my job that much easier.” David Puckett took third, track champion Ben Bowie was fourth and Bubby Tharp filled the front-five. Heats for the 17-cars on hand went to Williams and Kane.

Second year racer Chris Arnold drove the race of his career as he was the winner of the 30-lap modified contest for his first feature win anywhere. Arnold wrestled the top-spot from Travis Larouqe on the 17th lap and would then drive away to a convincing victory. “Man this is awesome.” Arnold stated. “I’m really happy that my first win came here at Potomac, this is one of my favorite tracks.” Larouqe held on for second, Brandon Galloway was third, Rich Marks took fourth and Eric Erwin completed the top-five. Heats for the 16 cars went to Arnold and Mike Reynolds.

Jonathon Raley appeared to have capped of a successful rookie season in the hobby stock division as he rolled to his fourth win of the season and the $1000 top prize that went

with it. However Raley refused a post-race inspection after his victory handing the win to second place finisher and 2009 nationals winner Jimmy Randall. John Burch was second, Wesley Givens took third, Brandon Sandridge was fourth and Danny Loth was the top-five. Heats for the 24-cars entered went to Ricky Douglas, Randall and Brian Adkins.

In other weekend action, 2011 track champion John Hardesty scored his third win of the season in the 30-lap strictly stock feature and Josh Wilkins was victorious in the rain-shortened 10-lap u-car feature.

Street Stock Feature Finish

1. Ricky Edmonds 2. Mike Corbin 3. Kyle Nelson 4. Terry Staton 5. Mike Rose 6. Danny Zechman 7. Scottie Nelson 8.

Kurt Zimmerman 9. Ed Pope 10. Mike Latham 11. Paul Quattro 12. Darren Alvey 13. Jimmy Jessmer Jr. 14. Dale Reamy 15. Jimmy Combs 16. Rick Stouffer 17. David Kaiser 18. Billy Farmer 19. Bryan Kerns 20. Troy Kassiris 21. Stephen Quade 22. Mike Grady Jr. 23. Michael Carter 24. Dave Stouffer Jr. 25. James Sparks 26. Craig Tankersley

Limited Late Model Feature Finish

1. David Williams 2. Bruce Kane 3. David Puckett 4.

Ben Bowie 5. Bubby Tharp 6. Derrick Quade 7. Paul Cursey 8. Tommy Wagner Jr. 9. Tyler Emory 10. Barry Lear 11. Pat Wood 12. Kevin Cooke 13. Matt Quade 14. Sam Archer 15.

Glenn Elliott 16. CJ Brown 17. Allan Canter

Modified Feature Finish

1. Chris Arnold 2. Travis Larouqe 3. Brandon Galloway 4. Rich Marks 5. Eric Erwin 6. Brian Dobie 7. Paige Harrison 8. Jimmy Duncan 9. Russell Erwin 10. Lance Grady 11.

Brandon Greither 12. Tim Schulte 13. Tony Quade 14. Mike Reynolds 15. Dan Arnold 16. Craig Ramich

Hobby Stock Feature Finish

1. Jimmy Randall 2. John Burch 3. Wesley Givens 4.

Brandon Sandridge 5. Danny Loth 6. Joey Dean 7. Andrew Tarbox 8. Matt Tarbox 9. Bud Pickeral 10. Jerry Deason 11.

Mark Guthrie 12. Ryan Toole 13. Jimmy Meek 14. Bobby Meixsall 15. Brian Adkins 16. Ricky Douglas 17. Wil Nelson 18. James Sutphin 19. Don Breach 20. Brittany Wenk 21. David Bowler 22. David Savage 23. Jonathon Raley (DQ)

Thursday, October 6, 2011

14

Longing For The Good Old Days

By Ronald N. Guy Jr.

On the final day of the season, New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes completed a personally successful season, if not so much for the 4th place Mets, by winning a tight race for the National League batting championship. Reyes entered game 162 with a .336 average, slightly ahead of Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun. In his first at bat, Reyes bunted for a base hit, raising his average to a nearly insurmountable .337. Reyes had apparently done the math: knowing a leadoff hit would nearly assure him of being the first Metropolitan to win a batting title, he asked manager Jerry Manuel to remove him from the game, should he get a hit, to preserve his batting average.

After Reyes’ single, Manuel obliged and, sure enough, Reyes “won” the batting crown. Yeah?

Every kid has heard their parents lament about how much easier things are now, how tough things were “back in the day” and how those brutal years, apparently just after humans ceased to live in caves and forage for food, forged far stronger character. I remember one particular occasion, after a questionable school closer for a snow event, when my father was giving me the “today’s kids are soft” business. His irritation swelled as he described how, in his day, there were no such days off and kids would deal with the weather by wrapping their precious school shoes in newspaper and walking to where they could meet the bus. It sounded quite impressive.

The only problem was he was telling the story in the presence of my grandmother who, after composing her laughter at his dramatic account, proceeded to describe how her generation did the same thing; only the newspaper protected their bare feet, not a pair of dress shoes. I have no idea who was telling the truth - if anyone - but I exited that conversation thinking my grandmother was a bad, bad lady and that she grew up in a crazy era.

Looking back, I’m certain both were embellishing at least slightly, but they were also making a valid point.

I did have it easier. My kids have it easier than I did (and yes, I’ve made sure to point it out to them…minus the company of my parents, of course). What has been the impact on society? It’s difficult to quantify, but I don’t think it’s hard to recognize that today’s adolescents and young adults tend to perceive, process and react to situations with greater individual sensitivity and with less contemplation of the consequences external to themselves. If an issue doesn’t present an identifiable personal impact, they don’t care about it. Look at the shows on T.V. now (a pretty decent gauge of society’s psychological status). My parents grew up watching Father Knows Best and Leave It To Beaver. I grew up with the Cosby’s and Family Ties. All were shows with lessons about life and assimilating into a family or group. No character wished to shine above or at the expense of another. Now it’s the Kardashian’s (a show that’s tolerable only when muted) and Jersey Shore: shows that feature egocentric people who believe they are the center of the universe around which everything revolves.

Reyes’ choice to tap out and preserve a personal accomplishment was an egregious example of the prevalent me-first state of mind. He didn’t care about the fans, who had paid to see the Mets’ best, or winning the game; it was about him first and foremost. Not only is it doubtful that this would have happened in prior generations, it didn’t. In 1941 Ted Williams entered the final day of the season with a far more significant .400 batting average. When offered to sit out the day’s double-header to preserve his historic accomplished, Williams scoffed at the notion, recorded 6 hits and raised his season-ending average to .406. Williams valued the fans, the game and his availability to his teammates over his individual numbers. This is a front and center contrast between past and present generations’ approach to daily operations. It leaves me suddenly overwhelmed with nostalgia for days, athletes and attitudes past.

Send comments to rguyjoon@yahoo.com

Thursday, October 6, 2011

The Calvert Gazette

TER T E to the

Fundraiser for Rescued Horses This Guest Editorial: Weekend As I reflect on recent events impacting our community, I am humbled by the presence of a common thread. SUPPORT. When the earth shook, friends and neighbors sought reassurance, gathering on front lawns to marvel at such a rare occurrence. When Southern Maryland was devastated only days later by hurricane Irene, businesses and emergency personnel acted swiftly to restore normalcy to our region. Then flooding rains created yet another disaster for many in our area.

How blessed we are, to live in a community where support for those in need is second nature; it is something we simply do. Members of our communities come out regularly to support causes ranging from cancer research to agricultural and historical preservation, and everything in between.

I have been on a similar mission of sorts, for the past year. What I have witnessed has forever changed me, both as a person, and a member of this community. Last spring, I shared with my riding students, the unfortunate plight of 135 horses found starving on MD’s Eastern Shore.

With the support of the community, this dedicated group of children raised nearly $1,000. They accomplished much, and inspired many.

Since then, I have followed the progress of these horses, pledging to continue my support for their care and rehabilitation. I have also been privileged to accompany a local horse rescue on a recent seizure of several emaciated horses. No one could have prepared me for what I would see on that day. The images are forever ingrained in my memory.

Images most choose not to see, would create in me, a resolve to make a difference. I would be a voice for those that have no voice.

The horrendous conditions, in which most emaciated horses are found, are those that have been deteriorating for a very long time. We all have been affected by the recent decline in the economy. Some have lost jobs. Others can barely afford to feed their families, let alone even consider feeding a horse. Any of us that own a horse know the financial commitment required to care for these animals. Thus, I believe a vicious circle ensues. A horse owner may have the best intentions of caring for the animal, then perhaps falls on hard times, or lacks the knowledge necessary to provide the proper care.

As the animal begins to show signs of poor health, and possibly starvation, the owner is then faced with the dilemma of reaching out for help, but fears the possibility of charges of animal neglect or abuse. Fear of such charges often prevents an owner from seeking assistance, and the cycle continues. Sadly, as in the case I just witnessed, this often leads to the death of a horse from starvation. That particular mare had a young foal by her side when she died. She could fight no more. So now I fight for her, and for her young foal. I am their voice.

There are many horse rescues in Maryland, and throughout the United States. They provide a valuable resource available to owners who, for whatever reason, cannot continue to care for their horses. Please know that if you are having a difficult time providing even the basic elements of care for your horse, there is help out there! Rescues are ready and waiting to welcome your horse. They are well equipped to provide food, shelter, and veterinary care. You will know that their every need is being met, and that they are receiving the best care possible.

If you are worried about the condition of a particular horse in your neighborhood, or on your way to work; if something doesn’t seem quite right, your concerns are probably well founded. Trust your gut. Make the call to animal control or your local rescue. You can call anonymously. Your call may be the very thing that saves a horse from a slow, agonizing death from starvation.

Animal Control in Calvert County can be reached through the Sheriff’s Department. Our local horse rescue is Freedom Hill Horse Rescue (www.freedomhillhorserescue.com), and can be reached at 410-474-7662 or 301-806-1708. Our regional horse rescue is Days End Farm Horse Rescue (www.defhr.org), and can be reached at 301-8545037. Both are non-profit 501(c)3 organizations and depend on volunteers and financial support from the community.

In HONOR of all the horses who have lost their fight against abuse, neglect, and starvation, and in SUPPORT of those that continue their daily struggle to regain their health, a fund raiser is planned for Saturday, October 8, 2011 from 10 am - 4 pm. Please join us at Fresh Meadows Farm, 2195 Hunting Creek Road, Huntingtown, Md 20639.

We welcome our community for an event sure to please every member of your family!

There will be food, live country music by Anthony Ryan and friends, pony rides, moon bounce, kids’ crafts, face painting, miniature horses, donkeys, and sheep to pet, riding demonstrations, seminars, clinics, 50/50 raffles, a parade of horse breeds, vendor booths, local and regional Horse Rescue Groups, and a silent auction table that includes gift baskets, gift cards from area businesses, and an authentic 2011 Washington Capital’s NHL Jersey AUTOGRAPHED by the entire team, as well as TWO tickets (GREAT SEATS!) to a CAPITAL’S home game! Three of the 135 Polish bred Arabians rescued from Queen Anne County will be there for the public to witness their incredible journey back to health. ADMISSION IS FREE!!! Proceeds benefit the care and rehabilitation of these horses and all donations are tax deductible. Vendor booths are still available, and volunteers are welcome! For more information, or to donate an auction item or service, go to www.freshmeadows.net or call 301-233-3225.

It is my every expectation that our community will continue upon that common thread of SUPPORT in this time of need for these horses, for it truly is in giving, that we receive.

Rosie Wynne-Meador Chesapeake Beach, MD

Editor

S

L

15

Fake Surplus

By Marta Hummel Mossburg

Recent reports gush that Maryland expects a $195 million budget “surplus” this year. But saying that Maryland will end the year with extra cash is to truth as soda is to health food.

As the left-leaning Maryland Budget and Tax Policy Institute said in “The Regular Person’s Guide to the Governor’s Fiscal Year 2012 Budget”: “On a 12-month basis, the budget for fiscal year 2012 is still not ‘structurally’ balanced. Under the Governor’s plan, the state will spend (in general funds) $14.6 billion and take in $13.7 billion.

This gap of $900 million is made up by spending down the general fund balance, transferring money from Open Space funds, the Bay Restoration Fund and other special accounts, and using bond funds instead of current revenues for capital programs.”

So, the $195 million more anticipated from original estimates that the state expects in fiscal 2012 still leaves Maryland in a deficit of $705 million this year.

Unless and until another $705 million in extra money appears in the state treasury -- maybe investor Warren Buffet will take pity on us -- the budget will remain in deficit.

Most likely, however, the money will be spent, exacerbating the widening gap between money in and money out.

The picture is a lot worse than this year would make it seem, however. As the Institute for Truth in Accounting points out, many liabilities are not added to the yearly balance sheet, including pension costs. A 2009 analysis of state finances by IFTA found that, “Almost $40.9 billion of state employees’ retirement and other costs have been

pushed into the future, and thus onto our children’s and grandchildren’s backs.”

This year the organization pegged liability for Maryland’s debt at $16,500 per person -- the ninth worst in the country. Thankfully it has not yet reached levels in Connecticut ($41,200 per person), New Jersey ($34,600 per person) and Illinois ($26,800). But the state is not moving in a direction to fix the problem.

Instead of stopping unsustainable spending, it continues to borrow money from dedicated trust funds and has been doing so for many administrations. For example, as Maryland Public Policy Institute Senior Fellow Gabriel Michael pointed out in a 2010 policy report, the InterCounty Connector (ICC) was supposed to be paid for in cash, but the state broke its promise and issued bond debt instead.

Read the budget to find out what other money is being confiscated from allegedly sacrosanct “trust funds” into the general fund. The practice not only jeopardizes important transportation and other projects, but completely disassociates taxation from the purpose it was intended. It would be like going door to door in the name of raising money for homeless people and later dedicating the money to a park or animal shelter or a party for friends. If that behavior is dishonest, how is the government’s any different?

That leads us back to the alleged surplus. It doesn’t matter how many times state mouthpieces use the word, it is still entirely misleading and Orwellian in its bravado.

Marta Hummel Mossburg is a senior fellow at the Maryland Public Policy Institute.

Send Letters to:

SOMD Publishing

P.O. Box 250 • Hollywood, MD 20636

Make sure you include your name, phone # and the city you live in.

We will not publish your phone #, only your name and city

Publisher Thomas McKay Associate Publisher Eric McKay Editor Sean Rice Office Manager Tobie Pulliam Graphic Artist Angie Stalcup Advertising sales@somdpublishing.net Email info@somdpublishing.net Phone 301-373-4125 Staff Writers Guy Leonard Sarah Miller Corrin Howe Contributing Writers Joyce Baki Keith McGuire

Government Correspondent Community Correspondent Community Correspondent

Calvert Gazette

P. O. Box 250 . Hollywood, MD 20636 The Calvert Gazette is a weekly newspaper providing news and information for the residents of Calvert County. The Calvert Gazette will be available on newsstands every Thursday. The paper is published by Southern Maryland Publishing Company, which is responsible for the form, content, and policies of the newspaper. The Calvert Gazette does not espouse any political belief or endorse any product or service in its news coverage. Articles and letters submitted for publication must be signed and may be edited for length or content. The Calvert Gazette is not responsible for any claims made by its advertisers.

The Calvert Gazette

POLICE BLOTTER During the week of September 26 through October 2 deputies of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office responded to 1,622 calls for service throughout the community.

Citizens with information on the following crimes or any criminal activity in Calvert County who wish to report it anonymously can now access the Calvert County Crime Solvers link through the Sheriff’s Office website.

Go to http://www.co.cal.md.us/residents/safety/law/sheriff/ and click on the Crime Solvers link to leave an anonymous tip on-line. Information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect could result in a $1,000 reward.

CDS Violation

On September 27 at 8:30 p.m. on Grovers Turn Road near Megatha Lane in Owings, the passenger in a vehicle stopped for a traffic violation and was arrested for allegedly possessing suspected drugs. DFC T. Rickard arrested Joseph J. Brown, 44 of Owings, and charged him with possession of marijuana.

Unlocked vehicle burglarized

Sometime between September 27 at 9:30 p.m. and 7:20 a.m. on September 28, unknown suspect(s) stole $70 worth of property consisting of cash and a carton of cigarettes from inside an unlocked vehicle. The car was parked outside a home on Theophilus Court in St. Leonard. DFC C. Johnson is investigating the theft.

Three arrested for drug possession after traffic stop

After stopping a vehicle for speeding near 27th Street and D Street in Chesapeake Beach on September 28 at 2:50 a.m., DFC T. Rickard found the driver and two passengers to be in alleged possession of suspected drugs. He arrested the driver, Richard J. Higgs, 30 of Germantown, and passengers Stephanie C. Devaughn, 31 of Huntingtown and Jordan E. M. Deere, 21, also of Huntingtown, and charged each with possession of marijuana and possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia, a silver metal grinder, silver cup and wooden container with metal pipe.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

16

High Dollar Burglaries Hit Calvert

By Guy Leonard Staff Writer Calvert County Sheriff’s Office investigators are looking for clues to solve a rash of property thefts and burglaries that have tallied to tens of thousands of dollars in losses in construction and trade materials, power tools and even jewelry.

Lt. Steve Jones, head of the Calvert Investigative Team, said that precious metal thefts have dogged the county recently since prices have risen.

“It’s all gold, silver and copper,” Jones said of the metals most in demand, with crimes being driven by greed, a need to fill a drug addiction or both.

Precious metal thieves have also become brazen, Jones said, especially when residents who have scrap metal leave it unguarded.

“We’ve had cases where they pull up to people’s yards and just take their metal.” Jones said. “We’ve had them strip the copper out of air conditioners attached to a building and they didn’t even break in.”

Thieves are also targeting venues like trucks or other vehicles that hold items of value, particularly power tools that are relatively easy to sell compared to large amounts of precious metals that are often taken to scrap metal dealers, of which there is only one in Calvert County, Jones said.

Jones called thefts of power tools and other such equipment “easy pickings” since owners often do not catalogue serial numbers of make and model of the item stolen.

For those who do, sometimes detectives catch a break when they can track the item’s number and it comes up for sale in a pawn shop.

“We check pawn shops daily,” Jones said.

These thefts, with their promise of quick cash, are mostly driven by drug habits, Jones said, which have morphed from crack cocaine addiction to abuse of prescription medication and their illicit sale.

“This outweighs the crack epidemic,” Jones said. guyleonard@countytimes.net

Two saws stolen

Police are searching for an unknown suspect or suspects who stole two black and yellow DeWalt saws from the bed of a pickup truck parked outside a home on Golden West Way in Lusby between September 26 and 28. DFC J. Norton is investigating.

Jewelry stolen

Unknown suspect(s) stole over $700 worth of jewelry from an unlocked vehicle parked in the driveway of a home on Timberview Road in St. Leonard between 6:30 p.m. on September 27 and 7:00 a.m. on September 28, police report. Some of the jewelry is described as an Anne Klein gold watch, a gray pearl watch, various silver bracelets and a pink rhinestone bracelet.

Cpl. A. Moschetto is investigating.

Vehicle parts stolen from park and ride

Two $400 catalytic converters were removed from two vehicles parked at the Sunderland Park and Ride during the daytime on September 28. Anyone with information is asked to contact Dep. M. Quinn at 410-535-2800 or Calvert County Crime Solvers.

Trailer stolen

A dark green 1990 International trailer valued at $1,800 was stolen sometime between September 20 and 28 from outside a home on Little Cove Point Road in Lusby. DFC J. Norton is investigating.

Traffic stops lead to drug arrests

DFC D. Deakins arrested the driver and one passenger of a vehicle he had stopped for crossing the centerline on Rt. 4 southbound near Chaneyville Road in Owings. The driver, Wayne Joseph Brooks, 19, of Leonardtown and passenger, Steven Michael Knight, 19, of Hollywood, were both charged with possession of marijuana, possession of Phencyclidine (PCP) and possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia, a glass smoking device, police alleged. Brooks was also charged with driving while impaired by drugs and or alcohol.

One Store of Five Fails Underage Liquor Sting On Sept. 17 at 9:35 p.m., an underage decoy was sent into several business establishments that hold liquor licenses with the intent to purchase alcoholic beverages.

The decoy was sent into five establishments and all but one of the clerks refused to sell alcoholic beverages to the underage decoy.

The decoy first entered Dunkirk Wine and Spirits, 2&4 Liquors, Lusby Liquors and Southern Liquors and at each place of business picked up an alcoholic beverage from within the store to purchase and placed the item on the counter at the register. Once at the register, a clerk in each store asked for identification and when the decoy stated that they did not have any, the sale was refused.

The decoy then went inside Sunderland Wine and Spirits located on Dalrymple Road in Sunderland, picking up an alcoholic beverage and placing it on the counter for purchase. The store manager failed to ask for ID and made the sale to the underage decoy, police said.

F/Sgt. T.M. Ireland immediately made contact with the manager and advised him that he had sold alcohol to an underage person. F/ Sgt. Ireland also performed an inspection of all pertinent documents to include the establishments’ keg book. F/Sgt. Ireland noted that employees of Sunderland Wine and Spirits failed to put the purchaser’s date of birth on two keg registrations in the book, police reported.

The manager was advised he would be contacted to appear before the Board of License Commissioners for Calvert County at their next scheduled meeting.

The Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Community Action Team conducts quarterly inspections of all Liquor License holders throughout Calvert County. Compliance checks for sales to minors are conducted randomly.

All violations are reported to the Board of License Commissioners of Calvert County for disposition.

17

Thursday, October 6, 2011

The Calvert Gazette

FAMILY OWNED • FAMILY OPERATED • FAMILY TRADITIONS

Your Buick, GMC, and Chevrolet Dealer in Leonardtown

New Vehicles 301-475-2355

Pre-Owned Vehicles 301-475-0047 www.winegardnerauto.com

Huge Sales Event 2005 BUICK LACROSSE

$9,995.00 2010 CHEVROLET CAMARO 2 SS

0 $31,995.0

2008 CHEVROLET TRAIL BLAZER LT W/1LT

$18,495.00

2010 ACURA TSX

1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE BASIC

$28,750.00 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX LS

$8,995.00 2007 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO LT

$14,750.00

2010 DODGE CHARGER SRT8

2009 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE LT W/1LT

$30,995.00 2007 CHEVROLET TRAIL BLAZER LS

0

$14,995.0

$9,995.00

2005 GMC SIERRA 1500 SLE

2007 GMC ACADIA SLT

$21,495.00 $32,495.00 Winegardner Motor Company Serving as your Leonardtown, Chevrolet, & Buick, GMC dealer.

Pre-Owned 301-475-0047 22675 Washington Street Leonardtown, MD 20650

$15,495.00 Scan this Code with your smart phone!

SALES • SERVICE • PARTS • AN AMERICAN R VOLUTION

The Calvert Gazette

Christopher Carney, 32

Amanda Mitchler, 25

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the: Gavin Mitchel Todt Fund @ NASA Federal Credit Union, 500 Prince Georges Boulevard, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774.

John Hooper, 86

Christopher Patrick Carney, 32, of Lusby, MD passed away on September 22, 2011 at his residence. He was born on September 23, 1978 in Washington, DC to M. Murray Carney, Jr. and Charlotte B. Rogers.

Christopher attended public and private schools in Charles Co., Calvert Co., as well as Apopka, FL in his childhood. He later found an interest in college and took classes in electronics and computers where he sought certification and credits in the field of choice as an IT Technician. Christopher worked for Fox Fiber Optics in FL, Comcast Corporation in NC, and Geeks on Call for over ten years. In 2009 he took time off to pursue his own business. Unfortunately, his plans never took off and his health declined along with his dreams and ambitions. Anxiety and depression are just two elements that have taken his short promising life.

Christopher is survived by his father M. Murray Carney, Jr. of Lusby, MD; mother, Charlotte Rogers of Dallas, GA; sister, Shawn M. Carney of Sayville, NY, and brother, Scott D. Carney of Savannah, GA. The family received friends for a Celebration of Life Visitation on Friday, September 30, 2011 from 6 ~ 8 PM in the Rausch Funeral Home Chapel, 20 American Lane, Lusby, MD. Interment will be private.

Amanda Denise Mitchler of North Beach, Maryland, died on September 24, 2011 at the age of 25.

She was born on May 19, 1986 in Silver Spring, Maryland.

She is the beloved mother of Gavin Mitchel Todt and the loving daughter of Mary Weakley and Richard Mitchler. She is the sister of A J and Tyler Weakley. She is also survived by her grandparents, Henry and Manéne Mitchler and Robert and Donna Freels; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and other family members.

Amanda graduated from Calverton in 2004. While attending Calverton, she was a statistician for the basketball and lacrosse teams. She was a Marlboro Majorette and on the pom squad.

Amanda coached the Dunkirk Warriors cheerleading squad for several years. She was an EMT of the Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Department and the Prince Georges Volunteer Fire Department.

Family received friends at Lee Funeral Home Calvert, P.A., 8200 Jennifer Lane, Owings, Maryland, 20736, on Thursday, September 29, 2011 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm. Funeral services were held on Friday, September 30 at 10 am at the Chesapeake Church, 6201 Solomons Island Road, Huntingtown, MD 20639.

Interment followed at Chesapeake Highlands Memorial Gardens, 3270 Brooms Island Road, Port Republic, MD 20676.

John William Hooper, 86, of Prince Frederick passed away September 29, 2011 at his home after a courageous battle with cancer. John was born July 4, 1925 in Prince Frederick, MD to John “Eddie” and Rosa Hooper. At the age of 13 John began working on various farms in his hometown. When he was 17, he worked in construction for a short time. Shortly after that, he married Annie. Soon after that he was drafted into the Army, where he served for one year. When he returned from serving his country, he began his career with the Fire Department, which he retired from after 31 years of dedicated service.

John had many passions in life, and first and foremost was his family.

He loved to cook and fix meals for everyone, and was known for his fried chicken and Maryland stuffed ham.

He even created a dish that he named “corn willie”. He loved to work outside in his yard and enjoyed growing a garden every year. He loved talking about the old times to all. John was a man of many skills and talents. He couldn’t wait for Monday, Thursday & Friday evenings so he could watch his WWE wrestling. He loved his faithful dog Chico who stayed with him throughout his illness. John was a genWhere Life and Heritage are Celebrated erous, kind and loving man. He was always willing to go out of his way to help anyone at anytime. He was loved by his family and will truly be missed. To know John was to love Affordable Funerals, Caskets, Vaults, him.

Cremation Services and Pre-Need Planning John was preFamily Owned and Operated by ceded in death by his Barbara Rausch and Bill Gross parents, and by one son, Charles. He is www.RauschFuneralHomes.com survived by his wife of 67 years, Annie, his children Johnny, 8325 Mt. Harmony Lane 4405 Broomes Island Rd. 20 American Lane William, Donald Lee 410-257-6181 410-586-0520 410-326-9400 (Gladys), Karen (Bar-

During a difficult time… still your best choice.

Owings

Port Republic

Lusby

Thursday, October 6, 2011

bara), and his grandson whom he raised, Charlie(Carrie). He is also survived by his grandchildren Donald Jr., Tony, Tamara, Becky and Jason. He has 11 great-grandchildren, Erin, Matthew, Tiffanie, Kyle, Emily, Kaylyn, Conner, Alyssa, Alexia, Aubrey, and Allison. John is survived by numerous nieces and nephews including his devoted and loving niece, Teanie Selig.

Active pallbearers will be Charlie Hooper, Tony Hooper, Goldie Nutwell, Mark Walters, Louis Gross, and John Peters.

Honorary pallbearers will be Johnny Hooper, Karen Hooper, Kyle Hooper, and Conner Hooper. The officiating clergy will be Reverend Willie Davis.

The family received relatives and friends for a visitation on October 3, 2011 from 5 – 8 PM at the Rausch Funeral Home, PA., in Port Republic, MD. A funeral service was held on October 4, 2011 at 11:00 AM in the Rausch Funeral Home.

Interment followed at Central Cemetery in Barstow, MD. Contributions may be made in John Hoopers honor to Prince Frederick Vol. Rescue Squad, 755 Solomons Island Rd. South, P.O. Box 346 Prince Frederick, MD 20678 AND/ OR Prince Frederick Vol. Fire Dept.

450 Solomons Island Rd. South Prince Frederick, MD 20678.

Bruce Wile, 80

Dorwin “Bruce” Wile, 80 of Solomons, MD passed away peacefully at home on September 27, 2011.

He was born on October 3, 1930 in Pontiac, Michigan to the late Dorwin Harter Wile and Ethel Mae Steig Wile.

He was the beloved husband to Ruby Jean Wile whom he married on February 2, 1952 in Pontiac, Michigan.

Bruce graduated from Pontiac Senior High School in 1948 and went on to attend the University of Michigan majoring in Mechanical Engineering and graduated in 1952. He also graduated from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY with a Civil Engineering Degree in 1958 and held Professional Engineering Licenses in MD, Michigan, and PA. In 1955 Bruce joined the US

18

Navy and served his country honorably for 26 years retiring in 1981.

He served many positions to include Executive Officer of Naval Shore Activity, Naval Plans & Policies Director, Operations Officer, Naval Construction Forces Logistics Officer, and in the Vietnam War with the Mobile Construction Battalion #4 Seabees. He served from coast to coast, in Vietnam and Washington, DC. While in the Navy he received; the Legion of Merit award, Navy Commendation Medal, (2) Meritorious Service Medals, Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Meritorious Unit Commendation.

Bruce enjoyed E-Type Jaguar cars and collected and showed them in car shows for many years. He also enjoyed model trains, boating, cherry pie, and Michigan football (Go Blue!). He was a member of the Chi Epsilon Engineer Fraternity, American Society of Civil Engineers, and the University of Michigan Alumni; served as Finance Officer for the American Legion Post #274, Lusby, MD for 19 years, Chairman of the American Red Cross Bloodmobile, and as president for S.M.I.L.E Ecumenical Ministries. In 1998 he was voted as ‘Calvert Co. Most Beautiful Person” for chairing the Calvert Co. and MD Commission on Aging, serving as board member and volunteer for Meals on Wheels, serving on the board of Southern Calvert Pines Senior Council, and serving on many committees involving church, community, elementary schools, nursing homes, and home owner associations. Bruce had a strong faith and always wanted to help others and strongly believed to “Give to others, not take”.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Bruce Bennet Wile; and sister, Jean Marie Cramer. Bruce is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ruby Jean Wile of Solomons, MD; daughter, Anita Wile Robinson and husband Danny of Huntingtown, MD; granddaughter, Leah Jean Robinson; and many other family and friends.

The family received friends on Saturday, October 1, 2011 from 1 ~ 2 PM in the Solomons United Methodist Church, Solomons, MD where a memorial service was held at 2PM with Rev. Meredith Wilkins-Arnold officiating. Inurnment followed in the St. Paul United Methodist Church Cemetery Columbarium, Lusby, MD. The family requests contributions to be made to Calvert Hospice, S.M.I.L.E., American Legion Post #274, or Solomons United Methodist Church.

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

19

Thursday, October 6, 2011

The Calvert Gazette

The Ordinary

Angler

On the

Water

Sunday Conversations With Chesapeake Authors

Mosquito Bait

By Keith McGuire

If weather is truly cyclical, anglers and hunters would, no doubt, opt for the drought cycle. While we may be bothered by monsoonal climates, other critters – like mosquitoes – seem to thrive on them. Clouds of insects are greeting archers looking for an early buck, and the worst part of fishing is leaving and returning to the dock. If you fish from shore you are, no doubt, beginning to question the effectiveness of DEET! By all accounts, fish don’t seem to care about the rain. Last week, anglers found an abundance of stripers, bluefish, and white perch in the Bay and local rivers.

Many anglers are finding speckled trout on our side of the Bay. Reports from the Eastern Shore indicate that there is a real abundance of Mike Henderson and Bill Geiger with 5lb bluefish. speckled trout in shallow waters around the islands there.

A few anglers actually found perch for bottom fishing anglers. some Spanish mackerel in the Bay last week. Most of Among catch reports, a bonus fish (other than us have assumed that these fish have moved on with the speckled trout) seems to be the occasional catch of red cooler weather, and they certainly will in the days to drum. Most of these are big fish in the Bay that have to come. be released. Anglers casting small spinner baits around Mike Henderson and Bill Geiger fished on Monday the shoreline for white perch are also catching the occa(9/26) out of Buzz’s Marina and caught several 5 pound sional red drum, most often too small to keep. The slot bluefish, along with stripers. Other reports indicate size limit in Maryland is 18” minimum to 27” maxithat larger bluefish are here and mixed in with countless mum. Anything smaller or bigger has to be released. smaller ones.

An interesting thing about red drum is that any catch, Stripers are breaking everyday in our area. When whether released or kept, qualifies for a “citation” in they’re not churning the water in massive schools, they Maryland. So if you catch one, take a picture and head are aggressively hitting top water plugs for light tackle to the local citation center to report your catch. anglers. Many of these fish are 30 inches, or better.

Don’t forget, if the sun ever shines again; be sure Trollers are having an easy time, as well. The fish are to put on some sunscreen. Mosquito bites on sunburned abundant in the rivers and the usual places in the Bay. skin are the worst kind of agony. Being mosquito bait is Bottom bouncing will produce better fish than lures bad enough on its own. trolled higher in the water column.

Don’t forget to take a picture of your catch and Last week there were even spotty catches of floun- send it to me with a report at the email address below. der at the south end of the County. Like most flounder riverdancekeith@gmail.com. anglers, the people who caught them provided no real details of where the fish were caught. Flounder people Keith has been a recreational angler on the Chesare the most tight-lipped anglers. We might hear about apeake Bay and its tributaries for over 50 years; he such things as the general area, the depth of the water, fishes weekly from his small boat during the season, the bait used, and other details during holiday discus- and spends his free time supporting local conservation sions this winter. organizations.

Some are reporting that the croakers are still here.

I haven’t heard any reports of a lot of fish, but croakers continue to punctuate the catches of spot and white

Sunday Conversations is an opportunity to discover new books and meet local authors who have written about topics of interest in and around the Chesapeake Bay. All of the featured books will be available in the Calvert Marine Museum Store and can be signed and personalized by the author on the spot. The free series, hosted by the Museum Store, begins on Oct. 23 at 2 p.m. and will continue through March 2012 at the Calvert Marine Museum.

Sunday, October 23 – 2:00 p.m.

“A Travel Guide to the War of 1812 in the Chesapeake” Ralph Eshelman, world traveler, scientist, historian, Renaissance Man, Calvert County resident, and previous Director of the Calvert Marine Museum never fails to enlighten and entertain. Eshelman will lead a historical tour following the steps of the American and British troops during the summer of 1814.

Sunday, November 20 – 2:00 p.m.

“Chesapeake Bay Stories” Raymond McAlwee was born in Washington D.C. and has been a life-long denizen of the bay. His short stories include a little history, travel, food, and fiction about the diverse people who make the Chesapeake Bay their home.

Sunday, January 15 – 2:00 p.m.

“Pure SEA GLASS” Richard LaMotte has spent hours carefully studying approximately 30,000 shards of sea glass to produce his in-depth book. Back by popular demand, LaMotte returns to this year’s Sunday Conversations with Chesapeake Authors Series to continue the discussion of this favorite topic. Participants are encouraged to bring their own collection for help in determining their age and origin. The museum store will highlight an exquisite selection of sea glass jewelry.

Sunday, February 19 – 2:00 p.m.

“Oscar and Olive Osprey” Janie Suss earned the Mom’s Choice Awards Honoring Excellence award for this publication. Experience the heartwarming story of two ospreys who raise their family on the Chesapeake Bay. Children and adults alike will feel a wonderful connection to these creatures with the help of the amazing color photographs. The story will encourage everyone to learn more about the wildlife around the Chesapeake Bay.

Sunday, March 25 – 2:00 p.m.

“Saving Squeak: The Otter Tale” Annapolis resident, Jennifer Keats Curtis has masterfully woven a tale that teaches children the importance of rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife while delighting the reader with details about Calvert Marine Museum’s own otter, Squeak. Special guest appearance by Linda Hanna, the aquarist featured in the book, and the CMM otter.

Sunday Conversations with Chesapeake Authors is free and open to the public. The Series is sponsored by The Patuxent Partnership with support from the Holiday Inn Solomons.

The Calvert Gazette

ner

e i d d i K Kor

CLUES ACROSS 1. Microelectromechanical system (abbr.)

5. Performs in a play 9. Adventure stories 14. __ Ladd, actor 15. Restore to health 16. Seize and hold by force 17. Capital of Latvia 18. Short whip used in riding 19. Lasso 20. Glass master Louis 23. Second sign of the zodiac 24. Macaws 25. Not night 26. Fastens 31. Group of natural steroid alcohols 35. Fire-Chief gasoline brand 36. Exclamation of movement joy 37. Upon 38. Pine pillow smell 41. “Music Man” librarian 43. A cloth for washing dishes 45. Adult female chicken 46. Actress Farrow

Thursday, October 6, 2011

47. Less difficult 51. US Sec. of State 56. __ Antoinette, last Fr. Queen 57. Norse god of discord 58. Flat topped cluster of flowers 59. Establish by law or with authority 60. Nothing to do 61. Current units 62. Pitch sounds 63. Bono’s ex-wife 64. 19th C. political cartoonist Thomas

CLUES DOWN 1. Latin singer Anthony 2. Poet T.S. 3. Earth’s molten rock 4. Goof 5. Accumulation 6. Introductory bob 7. A pace of running 8. Reddish browns 9. Outer boundary of an object 10. Continent

20

11. Cracidae bird 12. Imitative of artists 13. A fashionable hotel 21. R.C. church booklet 22. Guitar ridge 27. Wife in latin 28. Wife of a rajah 29. Prefix meaning outside 30. Anon 31. Switchboard (abbr.)

32. A native of Bangkok 33. Snakelike fishes 34. 20th Hebrew letter 39. Arm bands 40. Mother of Hermes 41. More farinaceous 42. Am. Nat’l. Standards Inst.

44. Popular cloved herb 45. Taunt a speaker 48. South American Indian 49. Word origins 50. Frolics 51. Tewa Village 52. Tehran is the capital 53. Tiny skin feeders 54. 10th Hebrew letter 55. Bird home 56. Was introduced to

Last Week’s Puzzle Solutions

21

Thursday, October 6, 2011

The Calvert Gazette

L

Young Financial Advisor Makes It His Business to Give Back the exception of the four years he attended college. He went to Beach Elementary, was in the first full class to graduate from Windy Hill Middle School and finished out his public education at Northern High School.

Ruest is a financial advisor for Edward Jones Investments something he had wanted to do since he was 9 years old.

“My parents were sitting where you are in this very office and I was sitting right there,” Ruest said during an interview with the Calvert Gazette. “I was fascinated with numbers. I was fascinated with investing. I was fascinated with money.”

From that point on, everything Ruest did was with the goal in mind of becoming a financial advisor, although not necessarily with Edward Jones or in Calvert County.

“There was never a Plan B.” Ruest’s parents’ Edward Jones advisor was Jeff Quesenberry. During Ruest’s junior high year in high school, he interned with Quesenberry. While at the Smith business school at UMD, Ruest interned with John Hancock at Tyson’s Corner, which turned into a part-time and later full-time job during and after college.

After graduating, he moved back home so that the commute to Tyson’s Corner cost him up to three hours of his life every working day. About the time he was thinking about changing either his company or his residence, Quesenberry emailed asking to “catch up.”

That eventually led to Ruest making the decision to work for Edward Jones here in Calvert. He said he weighed his decision heavily because he knew that the decision would set the course of his life. It takes about three to five years to build a base of clients so wherever he landed he knew he would stay.

He admitted Calvert County is expensive to live for a young professional. He’s renting but currently Calvert High School Academy of Finance students ask Justin Ruest about his years at University of Maryland. Senior Kirsten Sellers, left, Ruest and looking to buy a home, “probably a foreclosure on a Senior Sierra Pitts. short sell list.” A change of careers and where he would live also determined whether or not he’d be able to find other young professionals in which to interact.

By Corrin M. Howe middle school students is something Ruest has always want“I did want to live in a young professional town. People Staff Writer ed to do.

“At Northern High School I was a part of the Academy live here because they have families.”

However, he did grow up in Calvert. His parents and Justin Ruest sat down across from a half a dozen Acad- of Finance and FBLA. Business professionals helping (out emy of Finance students during Calvert High School’s one these organizations) teaching us about the real world. I want- sister still live here and he’s still sees friends from growing up, even if he has to cross the county line to see them. hour lunch. He was there to talk to them about his college ed to offer myself to teachers when I returned.”

“You can meet a lot of young professionals if you are career at the University of Maryland at College Park.

He said teachers appreciate him coming in and talking “Are you a state completer or a national completer,” he to the students on topics ranging from preparing for college active and try to give back,” said Ruest. “Being involved is asks senior Alyssa Mathesius. to investing in the stock market. In fact, he said the teachers how to meet people.”

Besides volunteering in the schools, Justin is an active She responds and the two begin conversing in a shared find that he connects with the students because at 24 yearsmember of the Prince Frederick Rotary Club, the Chamber of language that an outsider couldn’t understand. old, he’s not much older than his audience.

A few minutes later Ruest is peppered with questions Ruest seems to be one of the few young professionals Commerce, the Young Professionals Group and plays recresuch as “What’s the hardest part of college?” “Did you com- who has not only returned to Calvert but is trying to give ational softball in his spare time. plete the Bucket List?” “How did you pay for college? Schol- back to the community. corrin@somdpublishing.net arship or loans?” “Did you apply to any other colleges?”

Born in South Korea, adopted at 2 years old by a Calvert Spending time with Calvert County high school and County couple, Ruest has lived in the area his entire life, with

Out&About

The Calvert Gazette

Saturday-Sunday, October 8-9

p.m.)

Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum, 410-257-3892 • www.cbrm.org Explore the museum and its history with free children’s programs, crafts and games.

• Patuxent River Appreciation Days

bring the love of life, beauty and music that Ward embodied to a new generation of Southern Maryland students, performers and appreciative audiences. The concert will begin at 3 p.m. There is open seating and it is free to the public. (www. csmd.edu/Arts) (10 a.m.-5 p.m.)

Calvert Marine Museum, 14200 Solomons Island Road, Solomons. 410-3262042 • www.calvertmarinemuseum.com Patuxent River Appreciation Days (PRAD) marks its 33rd anniversary on Saturday and Sunday, October 8-9. PRAD was created to raise the awareness of the economic, cultural and historical impact the Patuxent River has on our community.

The festival offers a wide variety of events - children’s activities, an arts and crafts show, musical performances, an open house at the Calvert Marine Museum and a parade on Sunday, October 9, at 2 p.m.

Free harbor cruises are offered on board two historic vessels: the bugeye Wm. B. Tennison and the sailing skipjack, Nathan of Dorchester. Back by popular demand is Bounty of the Patuxent on Saturday from noon – 4 p.m. in the Corbin Nature Pavilion at the Calvert Marine Museum. Local wineries will offer wine tasting, locally grown produce from the farmers’ market and other tasty treats to sample and buy.

Come hungry – there is a great variety of food vendors! Admission is free. For more information about PRAD, including a complete schedule of events, visit http://www. pradinc.org, or call 410-326-2042 ext. 41.

Sunday, October 9 • Pianist Brian Ganz (3 p.m.)

College of Southern Maryland, Prince Frederick Campus.

The College of Southern Maryland Ward Virts Concert Series will host classical pianist Brian Ganz on October 9. A graduate of the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, Ganz has performed with numerous orchestras such as the St. Louis Symphony, as well as annually with the Ward Virts series. The Ward Virts Concert Series celebrates the life and talent of Wart Virts, a talented Southern Maryland pianist who passed away suddenly in 1993.

Ward’s friends and classmates conceived the Ward Virts Piano Project in order to

Thursday, October 6, 2011

• That Doggone Tiki Bar family Pet Day (12-5 p.m.)

Tiki Bar, 85 Charles Street on Solomons Island (410) 326-4006 The event benefits the Calvert Well Pet Clinic in Huntingtown which offers low cost dog and cat spay and neuters and well pet visits. There will be fun for the whole family including over 20 vendors, 6 animal rescue groups with pets for adoption, moonbounce, live music featuring NoGreenJellyBeenz acoustic band, free food donated by the Grill Sargeant, Calvert K9 Search and Rescue team demonstrations, agility demonstrations and pet games, Mr Tom’s Party Animal reptiles, pawdicures and much more. Pet contests start at 3PM and microchipping is offered from 2-4PM. There will be a silent auction, 50/50 raff le, live auction and raff le prizes.

Admission is free and there is plenty of free parking. Well behaved, leashed, vaccinated pets are welcome. Please no f lexi leashes.

Saturday, October 15

• American Indian Heritage Day (10 a.m.-5 p.m.)

Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum, 10515 Mackall Road, St. Leonard 410-5868501 • www.jefpat.org Watch, do and learn! Experience America’s first culture through demonstrations and explore traditions in an Indian Village. Visit www.jefpat.org for more information.

• Guided Canoe Trip American Chestnut Land Trust, Warriors Rest Sanctuary, 1920 Scientists Cliffs Road, Port Republic 410-414-3400 • www. aclt.org Experience a scenic harvest moon tour of Parkers Creek. Tour will depart from Warriors Rest. Reservations are required; call 410-414-3400 or email info@acltweb. org for more information. Please note that canoe trips are physically strenuous, requiring paddling for three hours (frequently against wind and tides), and may require participants to help carry a canoe for up to one-quarter mile over sand to access the creek.

Saturday-Sunday, October 15-16 • 13th Annual Calvert County Farm Tour (1-4 p.m.)

Calvert County Agriculture Commission, 410-535-4583 • www.calvertag.org Spend a day down on the farm and get to know Calvert County’s rural community. Tour working farms, enjoy hay rides, sample wines, visit with farm animals and participate in many special activities and educational opportunities. Shop for local produce, baked and canned goods.

Sunday, October 16 • Annual Fall Family Fun Day (1-4

22

• www.calvertmarinemuseum.com Gordon Bok, American folksinger and songwriter will appear live at the Calvert Marine Museum. Bok’s repertoire consists of a rich trove of ballads of Maine and the Maritimes, songs and dances of the Americas and abroad and stories of boats and sailors. He will also sing his own composition of sea folk tales, contemporary songs and instrumentals. He’s recorded over 20 albums, and plays at concert halls, festivals, and folk clubs throughout the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Scandanavia. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. in the museum auditorium. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. For more information visit www.calvertmarinemuseum.ticketforce.com.

Saturday, October 22

• Fossil Field Experience (11 a.m.-4 p.m.)

Calvert Marine Museum, 14200 Solomons Island Road, Solomons 410-326-2042 • www.calvertmarinemuseum.com This program is designed for adults and children eight and older who want to learn about fossils, where to find them, how to identify them and what they tell us about the past. Space is limited and registration is required.

• Halloween in the Garden (11 a.m.-4 p.m.)

Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center, 13480 Dowell Road, Solomons 410326-4640 • www.annmariegarden.org Looking for something SPOOKtactular to do for Halloween? Bring the family for a safe and spook-free daytime trickor-treating parade along the Garden’s wooded walking path. More than 70 local businesses and nonprofit organizations set up booths and hand out treats to all the trick-or-treaters.

Sunday, October 23

Friday, October 21 • Gordon Bok (7:30 p.m.)

Calvert Marine Museum, 14200 Solomons Island Road, Solomons 410-326-2042

• Haunted Waterpark (6:30-8 p.m.)

Chesapeake Beach Water Park 410257-2230 • 301-855-8398 • www.chesapeakebeachwaterpark.com Dress up in your costume and visit the waterpark for a howlin’ good time! Trickor-treat around the park and walk through the haunted river where you will encounter spooks and haunts at every turn.

Saturday, October 29 • Fall Foliage Hike at Double Oak Farm (1-3 p.m.)

American Chestnut Land Trust, 676 Double Oak Road, Prince Frederick • 410414-3400 • www.acltweb.org Bask in beautiful fall foliage and autumnal views of Parkers Creek and the Chesapeake Bay while hiking on the North Side Trail.

• 10th Annual Monster Mash Cruise (4:30-5:30 p.m.)

Calvert Marine Museum, 14200 Solomons Island Road, Solomons • 410-3262042 • www.calvertmarinemuseum.com All aboard, little goblins! Don your Halloween costume and cruise with your family aboard the Wm. B. Tennison. Reservations required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

23

Thursday, October 6, 2011

The Calvert Gazette

County Showcases Working Farms

By Sarah Miller Staff Writer It’s that time of year again – the kids are back in school, pumpkins are ready to be picked and carved, and the county is hosting the Calvert County Farm Tour.

The three farms featured this year are Friday’s Creek Winery in Owings, Lucky Cricket Farm in Huntingtown, Fridays Creek Winery and Spider Hall Farm in Prince Fredrick.

The Cleary Family Some of the farms on the tour are repeats from pervious 3485 Chaneyville Rd., Owings years. Both Friday’s Creek Winery and Lucky Cricket Farm 8*/& t XXX GSJEBZTDSFFL DPN have been featured on the tour before, and representatives Fridays Creek Winery is a family owned from both farms said they were happy to be included again. and operated farm winery housed in a “It’s a little bit out of the ordinary,� said Friday’s Creek renovated tobacco/dairy barn. Red, white owner Frank Cleary. and fruit wines are produced at the winery.

In an effort to make sure there’s something for everyt 4NBMM PO TJUF EFNPOTUSBUJPO WJOFZBSE XJUI B MBSHFS BDSF WJOFZBSE MPDBUFE body, the winery will be offering child-oriented activities BU UIF DPOĘVFODF PG 'SJEBZT $SFFL like pumpkin painting and wine tastings for the adults. There BOE UIF 1BUVYFOU 3JWFS will also be art on display in the old tobacco barn, including t %FNPOTUSBUJPOT PO IPX HSBQFT BSF photographs, ceramics and other works.

HSPXO IBSWFTUFE BOE QSPDFTTFE Mary Russell, co-owner of Lucky Cricket Farm, said t (SBQF TUPNQJOH XJUI UIF LJET there will be a variety of exhibits for the visitors. Some ridt $PNQMJNFOUBSZ XJOF UBTUJOH ers will be putting horses through their paces, running them t 5PVS UIF SFOPWBUFE UPCBDDP CBSO XJUI BSUT BOE DSBęT GSPN MPDBM BSUJTUT through increasingly complicated maneuvers, some of which t -JWF NVTJD CZ MPDBM NVTJDJBOT are choreographed to music. t 'PPE “It’s gymnastics for horses,� Russell said.

There will also be hands on lessons about grooming the horses, how to take their temperature and pulse and braid their manes and tails. There will also be a parade of breeds during the farm’s opening ceremony Oct. 15.

For young children, Russell said there will be a sandbox with corn kernels in place of the sand and a moon bounce.

The county will be helping to fund some of the vendors for the weekend, and she is working to get a local 4H group to help with the food vending.

Mark Volland, a public information specialist with Calvert County, said they try to make sure a good variety of farms are featured on the tour. Lucky Cricket is an equestrienne center, Spider Hall is a working farm and Friday’s Creek is a winery.

The weekend is promoted as a family event, Volland said, and not marketed specifically to school groups.

In addition to being a fun weekend, Cleary said the farm tours help spread the word about working farms in the area. “It’s always about increasing the awareness of the farming community,� Cleary said.

He said small farms have to do whatever they can to make money, including processing their produce to add value to it, like processing corn into cornmeal.

Volland agreed with Cleary, saying “with tobacco gone by the wayside,� farms are branching out into different ways of making money. The farm tour helps get their names out into the community.

He said during last year’s farm tour, 300 people passed through the winery, a number Cleary is anticipating again. He said the attendance at the winery in 2010 was the highGary Simpson est in his history with the farm tours.

Matt Laidley The timing of this year’s farm tour is a Katie Facchina little later than normal, which Russell said 7480 Crain Highway will be better for attendance due to the weathLa Plata, MD 20646 er being cooler.

301-934-8437 The Calvert County Farm Tour is Oct. 15 and 16, from 11 a.m. through 5 p.m. For April Hancock more information, call the Calvert County PO Box 407 Department of Economic Development at Bryans Road, MD 20616 410-535-4583 or visit www.ecalvert.com or www.calvertag.com.

301-743-9000

Lucky Cricket Farm, LLC .BSZ BOE .JLF 3VTTFMM &NNBOVFM $IVSDI 3E )VOUJOHUPXO t XXX MVDLZDSJDLFUGBSN DPN This 30-acre equestrian educational center includes a 16-stall barn with an attached indoor arena. The facility is climate-controlled for year-round use by people and horses. Dressage, jumping and horse-drawn carriage driving instructions available along with boarding, training and trail riding. t

$BSSJBHF SJEFT BOE SJEJOH HBNFT

t

%SFTTBHF BOE ESJMM UFBN

t

+VNQJOH WBVMUJOH BOE HSPPNJOH

t

$IJMESFO T BDUJWJUJFT

t

.VTJD BOE GPPE

Spider Hall Farm %BWJE BOE 4VTBO $PY )BMMPXJOH 1PJOU 3E 1SJODF 'SFEFSJDL t XXX TQJEFSIBMMGBSN DPN Spider Hall Farm is one of the few remaining working farms of its size in the county. Visit this 362-acre farm producing tobacco, corn and grain and focusing on agricultural education. t

7JTJU ićF 'BSN 4UBOEw GFBUVSJOH MPDBM QSPEVDUT MJLF NJML JDF DSFBN DIFFTF FHHT NFBU QSPEVDF BOE NPSF

t

/JOF BDSF DPSO NB[F

t

)BZ SJEFT

t

1JDL ZPVS PXO QVNQLJO QBUDI

t

'PPE CZ )BSEFTUZ )BWFO $BUFSJOH

t

,FUUMF DPSO BOE PUIFS EFMJDJPVT GBMM GPPET

t

1FUUJOH GBSN

t

&YIJCJUT GSPN ) $BMWFSU $PVOUZ )JTUPSJDBM 4PDJFUZ BOE $BMWFSU -JCSBSZ

t

"SUT BOE DSBęT

Do You Feel Crabby When You Get Your Insurance Bill in the Mail? Give Us A Call.

sarahmiller@countytimes.net

You’ll Be Glad You Did.

An Independent Agent Representing: ERIE INSURANCE GROUP Standing: Dan Burris, Jake Kuntz, Seated: Lisa Squires, Susan Ennis, Donna Burris

Burris’ Olde Towne Insurance Auto - Home - Business - Life Leonardtown, MD • Bus: (301) 475-3151 www.danburris.com

MHBR No. 103